Docetaxel and Capecitabine in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, or Peritoneal Cavity Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Diagnosis of 1 of the following:

  * Ovarian epithelial adenocarcinoma
  * Fallopian tube cancer
  * Peritoneal cavity cancer
* Recurrent or persistent disease after no more than 2 prior treatment regimens (1 regimen for primary disease and/or 1 regimen for recurrent disease)
* Platinum-resistant disease, defined as 1 of the following:

  * Treatment-free interval \< 6 months after platinum-based therapy
  * Disease progression during platinum-based therapy
* Measurable disease by physical exam, chest x-ray, CT scan, or MRI
* No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Gynecologic Oncology Group performance status 0-2
* Life expectancy \> 6 months
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
* Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL
* Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min
* Bilirubin normal
* AST or ALT and alkaline phosphatase (AP) meeting 1 of the following criteria:

  * AST or ALT ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AND AP normal
  * AST or ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN AND AP ≤ 2.5 times ULN
  * AST or ALT normal AND AP ≤ 5 times ULN
* No peripheral neuropathy \> grade 2
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after completion of study treatment
* No other concurrent malignancy except for curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer
* No prior invasive malignancy \< 5 years after curative therapy
* No serious uncontrolled medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study participation or limit survival to \< 6 months
* No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 or to fluoropyrimidine therapy or fluorouracil
* No inability to tolerate oral medication due to bowel obstruction, lack of physical integrity of the upper gastrointestinal tract, inability to swallow, or malabsorption syndrome
* No serious concurrent infections
* No clinically significant cardiac disease not well controlled with medication, including any of the following:

  * Congestive heart failure
  * Symptomatic coronary artery disease
  * Symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias
  * Myocardial infarction within the past 12 months

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior docetaxel or capecitabine or other fluoropyrimidine therapy
* Recovered from prior therapy
* At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery
* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or radiotherapy
* No other concurrent chemotherapeutic agents, biological therapy, radiotherapy, or other investigational agents