DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed primary ovarian epithelial or peritoneal cavity cancer

  • Histologic confirmation of recurrent disease not required
• Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques (including palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, or MRI) OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan

• Achieved a complete response after initial prior platinum-containing (cisplatin or carboplatin) chemotherapy regimen (e.g., conventional-dose therapy, high-dose therapy, consolidation therapy, or extended therapy after surgical or nonsurgical assessment)

  • Patients who have not received paclitaxel or docetaxel as initial therapy may receive a second regimen containing these drugs
  • No prior chemotherapy for persistent or recurrent disease, including re-treatment with the original regimen
• Platinum-sensitive disease, defined as having a treatment-free interval with no evidence of progressive disease for > 6 but < 12 months after completion of a platinum-based regimen
• No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• Over 18

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2 OR
• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy

• More than 6 months

Hematopoietic

• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin normal
• AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN OR
• Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular

• No New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure
• No myocardial infarction within the past year
• No uncontrolled dysrhythmias
• No poorly controlled angina
• No history of serious ventricular arrhythmia (e.g., ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, ≥ 3 beats in a row)
• QTc interval < 500 msec
• No other significant cardiac disease

Other

• Potassium normal
• Magnesium normal
• No uncontrolled electrolyte abnormality (hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia)
• No ongoing or active infection requiring antibiotics
• No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to study drug
• No neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• No other uncontrolled illness
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No prior monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, or signal transduction inhibitors for recurrent disease
• No concurrent biologic therapy

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) for the primary malignancy
• No prior FR901228 (depsipeptide)
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• More than 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy for the primary malignancy
• Concurrent estrogen replacement therapy allowed

Radiotherapy

• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy to > 25% of bone marrow
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• Recovered from all prior therapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior noncytotoxic therapy for the primary malignancy
• No other prior noncytotoxic therapy for recurrent disease
• No concurrent combination anti-retroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No other concurrent drugs known to have histone deacetylase inhibitor activity (e.g., valproic acid)
• No concurrent agents that cause QTc prolongation
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No other concurrent anticancer agents