Lapatinib in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial or Peritoneal Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically confirmed persistent or recurrent ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cancer
* Measurable disease

  * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  * Presence of ≥ 1 target lesion

    * Tumors within a previously irradiated field are not considered target lesions unless evidence of progression is documented or proven by biopsy 3 months after completion of radiotherapy
* Disease progression during OR persistent disease after 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen\* for primary disease containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound

  * Initial treatment may have included high-dose therapy, consolidation therapy, or extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment
  * Treatment-free interval after platinum-based chemotherapy \< 12 months
* Tumor accessible by guided core needle or fine needle biopsy
* Ineligible for any higher priority Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) protocols (i.e., any active phase III protocol for the same patient population)
* Performance status - GOG 0-2 (patients who have received 1 prior treatment regimen)
* Performance status - GOG 0-1 (patients who have received 2 prior treatment regimens)
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Serum Glutamate Oxaloacetate Transaminase (SGOT) ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
* Ejection fraction normal by echocardiogram or MUGA
* No GI disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication
* No malabsorption syndrome
* No requirement for IV alimentation
* No uncontrolled inflammatory GI disease (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 1 month after completion of study treatment
* No active infection requiring antibiotics
* No sensory or motor neuropathy \> grade 1
* No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
* No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to lapatinib
* At least 4 weeks since prior immunologic agents for the malignancy
* No prior trastuzumab (Herceptin®)or cetuximab
* See Disease Characteristics
* Recovered from prior chemotherapy
* At least 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas or mitomycin for the malignancy
* No prior non-cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease
* At least 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent dexamethasone or dexamethasone equivalent dose \> 1.5 mg/day
* At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for the malignancy
* Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed
* See Disease Characteristics
* Recovered from prior radiotherapy
* No prior radiotherapy to \> 25% of marrow-bearing areas
* See Disease Characteristics
* Recovered from prior surgery
* No prior surgical procedure affecting gastrointestinal (GI) absorption
* At least 4 weeks since other prior therapy for the malignancy
* At least 6 months since prior and no concurrent amiodarone
* At least 1 week since other prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors
* At least 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers
* At least 1 week since prior and no concurrent H2 inhibitors or proton pump inhibitors

  * Concurrent antacids allowed provided they are not administered within 1 hour before and 1 hour after study drug administration
* No prior cancer treatment that would preclude study treatment
* No prior lapatinib
* No other prior target-specific therapy directed to the HER family (e.g., gefitinib or erlotinib)
* No concurrent herbal medications
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients