Tirapazamine Plus Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed persistent or recurrent ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma
* At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion

  * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
* Platinum-sensitive disease

  * Treatment-free interval of more than 6 months without clinical evidence of progressive disease after a response to a platinum compound
* One prior chemotherapy regimen containing cisplatin or another platinum compound for primary disease required

  * Initial treatment may include high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment
  * Patients not previously treated with paclitaxel may receive a second regimen containing paclitaxel
  * No additional cytotoxic chemotherapy (including retreatment with initial regimens) for recurrent or persistent disease
* Ineligible for a higher priority GOG protocol (any active GOG phase III protocol for the same patient population)

  * Treatment-free interval of more than 12 months if non-platinum-based GOG-0146 series protocol is active concurrently with this protocol

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* Not specified

Performance status:

* GOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* SGOT no greater than 2.5 times ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

* No prior or concurrent myocardial infarction or ischemic heart disease

Other:

* No active infection requiring antibiotics
* No sensory or motor neuropathy greater than grade 1
* No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
* Not pregnant
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunological agents directed at malignant tumor

Chemotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* Recovered from prior chemotherapy
* No prior tirapazamine

Endocrine therapy:

* At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at malignant tumor
* Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed

Radiotherapy:

* Recovered from prior radiotherapy
* No prior radiotherapy to site(s) of measurable disease used on this study
* No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of bone marrow

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics
* Recovered from prior surgery

Other:

* No prior cancer treatment that would preclude study
* At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy directed at malignant tumor