DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed metastatic refractory ovarian epithelial cancer OR primary peritoneal cancer provided the clinical and pathological features of the tumor are similar to primary ovarian epithelial carcinoma Patients must have received prior chemotherapy including at least one platinum analogue and one taxane analogue unless patient is poor candidate for these treatments due to neuropathy, nephropathy, or hypersensitivity (to Taxol only) Bidimensionally measurable disease by x-ray, CT scan, MRI, or physical exam Ascites not considered measurable or evaluable Hormone receptor status: Estrogen receptor status must be known or tissue must be available for analysis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Sex: Female Menopausal status:

Not specified Life expectancy: At least 24 weeks Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL (transfusion-independent) Prothrombin time or activated partial thromboplastin time no greater than 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal ALT or AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN (ALT and AST no greater than 5 times ULN in the presence of liver metastases) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 ULN Other: No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated nonmelanomatous cancer of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens (including repeated drug combinations) for patients with potentially platinum-sensitive disease No more than 3 prior chemotherapy regimens (including repeated drug combinations) for patients with platinum resistant disease At least 6 weeks since mitomycin or nitrosoureas At least 3 weeks since other prior chemotherapy Recovered from prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: At least 3 weeks since hormone replacement therapy No prior hormonal therapy for ovarian cancer Radiotherapy: At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: Not specified