DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cancer

  • Recurrent or persistent disease

• At least 1 unidimensionally measurable target lesion

  • At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  • Outside a previously irradiated field

• Received 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen (e.g., carboplatin, cisplatin, or other organoplatinum compound) for primary disease

  • Initial treatment may have included high-dose, consolidation, or extended therapy after surgical or non-surgical assessment

• Considered platinum resistant or refractory, according to 1 of the following criteria:

  • Treatment-free interval of less than 6 months after platinum-based therapy
  • Disease progression during platinum-based therapy
• Ineligible for any higher priority GOG protocol

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• GOG 0-2 (for patients who received 1 prior treatment regimen)
• GOG 0-1 (for patients who received 2 prior treatment regimens)

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

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

Hepatic

• SGOT and SGPT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular

• No serious cardiac disease
• No prior myocardial infarction
• No uncontrolled congestive heart failure

Pulmonary

• No pulmonary disease requiring oxygen

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• Neuropathy (sensory and motor) ≤ grade 1
• No active infections requiring antibiotics
• No hearing impairment
• No known G6PD deficiency
• No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic agents for malignant tumor
• One prior non-cytotoxic regimen (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, or small-molecule inhibitors of signal transduction) allowed

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• One prior paclitaxel-containing regimen allowed
• No prior 3-AP
• No other prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease, including retreatment with initial chemotherapy regimens
• Recovered from prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for malignant tumor
• Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed

Radiotherapy

• No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of marrow-bearing areas
• Recovered from prior radiotherapy

Surgery

• Recovered from prior surgery

Other

• No prior cancer therapy that contraindicates receiving study therapy