DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following:

  • Advanced ovarian epithelial, primary peritoneal cavity, or fallopian tube cancer (phase I [closed to accrual as of 12/6/07] and II)
  • Metastatic breast cancer (phase I only [closed to accrual as of 12/6/07])

• Measurable or evaluable disease, meeting 1 of the following criteria:

  • Unidimensionally measurable lesion
  • Known disease AND CA 125 > 50 U/mL on 2 occasions ≥ 1 week apart
  • Known disease AND CA 27-29, CA 15-3, or CA 125 > 50 U/mL on 2 occasions ≥ 1 week apart (for breast cancer patients)

• Meets 1 of the following criteria:

  • Previously treated with a standard course of taxane- and platinum-based chemotherapy for ovarian epithelial, primary peritoneal cavity, or fallopian tube cancer

    • Platinum-refractory or -sensitive disease (phase I [closed to accrual as of 12/6/07])
    • Platinum- and taxane-resistant disease, defined as a disease-free interval of < 6 months after completion of platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy OR disease progression during the regimen (phase II)
  • Previously treated with ≥ 2 prior regimens for metastatic breast cancer, including 1 taxane-based regimen in the adjuvant or metastatic setting (phase I [closed to accrual as of 12/6/07])

• No active brain metastases, including any of the following:

  • Evidence of cerebral edema by CT scan or MRI
  • Evidence of disease progression on prior imaging studies
  • Requirement for steroids
  • Clinical symptoms of brain metastasis

• Hormone receptor status:

  • Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Sex

• Female

Menopausal status

• Not specified

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2 OR
• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy

• More than 3 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 symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to Cremophor® or study drugs
• No neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• No ongoing or active infection
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• No other uncontrolled illness

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered
• At least 1 week since prior chemotherapy if given on a daily or weekly schedule and recovered
• No prior doxorubicin HCl liposome

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics

Radiotherapy

• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• Recovered for more than 4 weeks from all adverse events related to prior agents
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy