Paclitaxel Albumin-Stabilized Nanoparticle Formulation in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following:

  * Ovarian epithelial cancer
  * Fallopian tube cancer
  * Primary peritoneal carcinoma
* Recurrent or persistent disease
* Must have received 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound for management of primary disease

  * Initial treatment may have included intraperitoneal therapy, high-dose therapy, consolidation therapy, or extended therapy administered after a surgical or nonsurgical assessment
  * Patients who have not received prior paclitaxel-based chemotherapy must receive a second regimen that includes paclitaxel or docetaxel
* Platinum-resistant or refractory disease, defined by 1 of the following:

  * Treatment-free interval of \< 6 months after completion of platinum-based therapy
  * Persistent disease at completion of primary platinum-based therapy
  * Progressive disease during platinum-based therapy
* Paclitaxel-resistant disease, defined as having had a treatment-free interval \< 6 months or shown disease progression during paclitaxel-based therapy

  * Patients who have not received prior paclitaxel-based chemotherapy must receive a second regimen that includes paclitaxel or docetaxel
* 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 that can be used to assess response

  * Tumors within a previously irradiated field are designated as non-target lesions unless progression is documented or biopsy confirms persistence ≥ 90 days after completion of radiotherapy
* Not a candidate for a higher priority GOG protocol
* GOG performance status 0-2
* ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
* Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Bilirubin normal
* SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* No active infection requiring antibiotics
* No sensory or motor neuropathy \> grade 1
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* PT INR ≤ 1.5 or in-range INR 2-3 (if patient is on a stable dose of therapeutic warfarin)
* PTT \< 1.2 times control
* No concurrent serious medical or psychiatric illness, including serious active infection
* No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., blood pressure ≥ 150/100 mm Hg)
* No uncompensated congestive heart failure or symptomatic coronary artery disease
* No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
* No active bleeding
* No other invasive malignancies within the past 5 years except for nonmelanoma skin cancer
* No history of allergic reactions attributed to chemical or biological composition to paclitaxel or other study agents
* No concurrent amifostine or other protective reagents
* Recovered from prior surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy
* No prior paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation (Abraxane®)
* No prior cancer treatment that would preclude study therapy
* No additional prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for management of recurrent or persistent disease, including retreatment with initial chemotherapy regimens
* One additional prior noncytotoxic regimen (i.e., monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, or small molecule inhibitors of signal transduction) for management of recurrent or persistent disease allowed
* At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at the malignant tumor

  * Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed
* At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy directed at the malignant tumor, including biologic therapy, immunologic agents, or radiotherapy
* More than 5 years since prior chemotherapy for any other portion of the abdominal cavity or pelvis, unless for treatment of ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer

  * Prior adjuvant chemotherapy for localized breast cancer allowed provided it was completed \> 3 years ago and patient remains free of recurrent or metastatic disease
* More than 5 years since prior radiotherapy to any other portion of the abdominal cavity or pelvis, unless for treatment of ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer

  * Prior radiotherapy for localized breast cancer, cancer of the head and neck, or skin cancer allowed provided it was completed \> 3 years ago and patient remains free of recurrent or metastatic disease
* No prior radiotherapy to \> 25% of marrow-bearing areas