Temsirolimus in Treating Patients With Refractory or Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cavity cancer

  * Recurrent or refractory
* Prior treatment with ≥ 1 platinum-based chemotherapeutic regimen for management of primary disease (containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound) required

  * Initial treatment may have included any of the following:

    * High-dose therapy
    * Intraperitoneal therapy
    * Consolidation therapy
    * Noncytotoxic agents
    * Extended therapy administered after surgical or nonsurgical assessment
  * Patients must meet ≥ 1 of the following criteria:

    * Treatment-free interval after platinum therapy of \< 12 months for patients who received only 1 platinum-based regimen
    * Progressed during platinum-based therapy
    * Refractory disease after a platinum-based regimen
* Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan

  * Must have ≥ 1 target lesion

    * Tumors within a previously irradiated field will be designated as "non-target" lesions unless progression is documented or a biopsy is obtained ≥ 90 days after completion of radiotherapy
* Not eligible for a higher priority GOG protocol, if one exists
* GOG performance status (PS) 0-2 for patients who have receive one prior regimen OR GOG PS 0-1 for patients who have received 2-3 prior regimens
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit normal (ULN)
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN
* AST ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* No neuropathy (sensory and motor) \> grade 2
* Fasting cholesterol \< 350 mg/dL
* Fasting triglycerides \< 400 mg/dL
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No active infection requiring antibiotics (with the exception of uncomplicated UTI)
* No other invasive malignancies within the past 5 years, except for non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer, or head and neck cancer
* See Disease Characteristics
* Recovered from prior surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy
* At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at the malignant tumor
* At least 3 years since prior radiotherapy for localized cancer of the breast, head and neck, or skin

  * Patient must remain free of recurrent or metastatic disease
* At least 3 years since prior adjuvant chemotherapy for localized breast cancer

  * Patient must remain free of recurrent or metastatic disease
* At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy directed at the malignant tumor, including immunologic agents
* No prior temsirolimus
* No prior cancer treatment that would preclude study therapy
* No prior radiotherapy to \> 25% of marrow-bearing areas
* No prior radiotherapy to any portion of the abdominal cavity or pelvis, except for the treatment of ovarian cancer
* No prior non-cytotoxic therapy for management of recurrent or persistent ovarian disease, except for therapy that was part of the primary treatment regimen
* Two additional cytotoxic regimens (defined as any agent that targets the genetic and/or mitotic apparatus of dividing cells, resulting in dose-limiting toxicity to the bone marrow and/or gastrointestinal mucosa) for management of recurrent or persistent ovarian disease allowed
* Concurrent low molecular weight heparin allowed provided PT/INR ≤ 1.5
* Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed
* No concurrent amifostine or other protective reagents
* No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF)