RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die.

PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of ISIS 5132 in treating patients who have metastatic or recurrent ovarian cancer that has not responded to previous chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the efficacy of ISIS 5132 by evaluating objective response and duration of response in patients with recurrent ovarian epithelial cancer. II. Determine the tolerability and quantitative toxicity of ISIS 5132 in this patient population.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients receive ISIS 5132 IV continuously for 21 days. Courses are repeated every 28 days. Treatment continues for a maximum of 12 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with documented complete response receive an additional 2 courses. Patients with documented partial response receive an additional 4 courses. Patients are followed at 4 weeks, then every 3 months until disease relapse or progression.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 15-30 patients will be accrued for this study over 12-15 months.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically documented ovarian epithelial cancer Metastatic and/or locally recurrent disease that is incurable with standard therapy Must have received 1 or 2 prior regimens of chemotherapy At least 1 regimen must have contained cisplatin or carboplatin Bidimensionally measurable disease Indicator lesion size must be as follows: At least 4-50 cm2 by CT scan At least 1 cm2 by chest xray At least 1 cm2 (e.g., nodules) by physical exam No abdominal adenocarcinoma of unknown origin No borderline ovarian tumor No tumor known to be of primary fallopian tube or peritoneal origin

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 No known bleeding disorder Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST less than 5 times ULN PT/PTT normal (except when elevated due to therapeutic coumadin) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN Cardiovascular: No significant cardiac dysfunction Neurologic No history of significant neurologic disorder No significant psychiatric disorder Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception At least 5 years since prior malignancy and no evidence of recurrence No other serious illness or medical condition No active uncontrolled infection No complete bowel obstruction

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy No other concurrent cytotoxic therapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: Recovered from prior radiotherapy At least 4 weeks since radiotherapy to at least 20% of bone marrow Surgery: Not specified Other: As least 28 days since prior investigational agent or new anticancer therapy No concurrent therapeutic heparin No other concurrent investigational therapy