Liposome-Encapsulated Doxorubicin Citrate With or Without Gemcitabine Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, or Primary Peritoneal Cavity Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cavity cancer
* Progression or recurrence during first-line platinum-based chemotherapy (platinum-refractory disease) OR progression or recurrence during the first 6 months following the end of the last platinum-containing chemotherapy (platinum-resistant disease)
* Meets ≥ 1 of the following criteria:

  * Measurable metastatic disease on CT or MRI scan, ultrasound, or chest x-ray
  * Evaluable disease on CT/MRI scan (e.g., ascites or pleural effusion) or chest x-ray (e.g., pleural effusion)
  * Tumor marker progression (CA-125) according to Rustin criteria, meeting 1 of the following criteria:

    * CA-125 \> 2 times upper limit of normal (UNL)
    * CA-125 \> 2 times nadir value on two occasions
* No ovarian carcinosarcoma (malignant mixed Müllerian tumor) or pure sarcoma

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Karnofsky performance status 70-100%
* Life expectancy ≥ 3 months
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
* Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL
* Neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 x 10³/mm³
* Serum creatinine \< 1.5 times ULN
* Bilirubin \< 1.5 times ULN (\< 2.5 times ULN if liver metastases are present)
* AST/ALT \< 2.5 times ULN (unless caused by parenchymal liver metastases)
* No childbearing capacity
* LVEF ≥ 50% by ECHO or MUGA scan
* No significant comorbidity (e.g., uncontrolled infection, clinical signs of cardiac insufficiency, history of myocardial infarction, or cardiac rhythmic disorders \[NYHA class III-IV disease\])
* No known hypersensitivity to study drugs
* No active secondary malignant tumor within the past 5 years (e.g., metastases from primary breast cancer)
* No condition (medical, social, or psychological), that would prevent adequate follow-up

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* No prior chemotherapy with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride, other anthracyclines, or gemcitabine hydrochloride
* No other concurrent tumor-specific therapy for ovarian cancer