Erlotinib and Carboplatin in Recurrent Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed recurrent ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer for which no standard curative therapy exists
* At least 1 measurable lesion

  * At least 20 mm by x-ray, non-spiral CT scan, or physical exam OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  * Ascites and bone metastases not considered measurable disease
* No abdominal adenocarcinoma of unknown origin or borderline ovarian tumor
* No elevated CA 125 as only evidence of disease
* At least 1 but no more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens required

  * First regimen must have contained cisplatin or carboplatin
  * Switching platinum compounds due to disease progression or failure to respond is considered 2 regimens
  * Same regimen as first- and second-line therapy is considered 2 regimens
* Responded to prior platinum-based first-line chemotherapy

  * No platinum-refractory disease
* No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

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

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than ULN

Cardiovascular:

* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* No unstable angina
* No cardiac arrhythmia

Gastrointestinal:

* See Surgery
* No GI tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication or requiring IV alimentation
* No uncontrolled inflammatory GI disease (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
* No active peptic ulcer disease

Ophthalmic:

* No ocular inflammation or infection
* No significant ophthalmologic abnormalities, including:

  * History of dry eye syndrome, Sjögren's syndrome, or keratoconjunctivitis sicca
  * Severe exposure keratopathy
  * Disorders that might increase the risk for epithelium-related complications (e.g., bullous keratopathy, aniridia, severe chemical burns, or neutrophilic keratitis)
  * Congenital abnormality (e.g., Fuch's dystrophy)
  * Abnormal slit-lamp examination using a vital dye (e.g., fluorescein or Bengal-Rose)
  * Abnormal corneal sensitivity test (e.g., Schirmer test or similar tear production test)

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No prior allergic reaction to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to erlotinib
* No other serious illness, medical condition, or significant neurologic or psychiatric disorder that would preclude study therapy
* No active uncontrolled infection
* No grade 3 or greater drug-related neurotoxicity
* No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Not specified

Chemotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas)

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (except low-dose palliative radiotherapy) and recovered

Surgery:

* At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery (wound healing must have occurred)
* No prior surgical procedures affecting gastrointestinal (GI) absorption
* No concurrent ophthalmic surgery

Other:

* No prior therapy targeting epidermal growth factor receptor
* No other concurrent anticancer therapy
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* Concurrent oral anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) allowed provided INR is monitored