Lapatinib and Topotecan in Treating Patients With Ovarian Epithelial Cancer or Primary Peritoneal Cancer That Did Not Respond to Cisplatin or Carboplatin

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma
* Must have one of the following:

  * Measurable disease
  * Evaluable disease AND a CA-125 value that has increased ≥ 2 times the nadir value established after debulking surgery and first-line chemotherapy, confirmed by a second measurement within the past 21 days

    * If a second measurement has not been done, it can be done ≥ 7 days but \< 21 days prior to study treatment
* Platinum-refractory and/or -resistant disease after first-line chemotherapy

  * Patients retreated with platinum agents (i.e., second relapse) are not eligible
  * Patients treated with first-line triplet therapy (e.g., on clinical trial GOG-182) are eligible
* Must have had debulking surgery

  * Tissue blocks from this surgery must be available
* No CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2
* Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST ≤ 3 times ULN (5 times ULN if there is liver involvement)
* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
* Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
* No uncontrolled infection
* No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart failure
* Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% by echocardiogram
* No seizure disorder
* No other prior or concurrent malignancy in the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior topotecan hydrochloride
* More than 4 weeks since prior surgery or procedure involving the peritoneum or pleura

  * CA125 measurements used as basis for enrollment must be made outside of this 4-week window
* More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) and recovered
* More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
* More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy
* More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* No prior radiotherapy to \> 25 % of bone marrow
* No prior therapy with an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor or anti-HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors
* No prior agents targeting topoisomerase I
* No prior or concurrent human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) in patients with non-measurable disease
* At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent herbal or dietary supplements

  * Vitamin supplements are allowed unless they include herbal additives
* At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers, including any of the following:

  * Rifampin
  * Rifabutin
  * Rifapentine
  * Phenytoin
  * Carbamazepine
  * Phenobarbital
  * Efavirenz
  * Nevirapine
  * Cortisone (\> 50 mg)
  * Hydrocortisone (\> 40 mg)
  * Prednisone (\> 10 mg)
  * Methylprednisolone (\> 8 mg)
  * Dexamethasone (\> 1.5 mg)

    * Oral doses of ≤ 1.6 mg of dexamethasone allowed
  * Modafinil
  * Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
* At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors, including any of the following:

  * Clarithromycin
  * Erythromycin
  * Troleandomycin
  * Itraconazole
  * Ketoconazole
  * Fluconazole (\> 150 mg daily)
  * Voriconazole
  * Delaviridine
  * Nelfinavir
  * Amprenavir
  * Ritonavir
  * Indinavir
  * Saquinavir
  * Lopinavir
  * Verapamil
  * Diltiazem
  * Nefazodone
  * Fluvoxamine
  * Cimetidine
  * Aprepitant
  * Grapefruit or grapefruit juice
* At least 6 months since prior and no concurrent amiodarone
* No concurrent participation in another study involving a pharmacologic agent (e.g., drugs, biologics, immunotherapy, gene therapy) for symptom control or therapeutic intent