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 topotecan in treating patients who have recurrent ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the antitumor activity of topotecan in patients with recurrent platinum sensitive ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cancer. II. Determine the nature and degree of toxicity of this treatment regimen in these patients.

OUTLINE: Patients receive topotecan IV over 30 minutes on days 1-3. Treatment continues every 3 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months for 3 years.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 22-60 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed recurrent ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma Bidimensionally measurable disease (ascites and pleural effusions not considered measurable) Platinum sensitive (defined as treatment free interval following response to platinum of greater than 6 months) One prior platinum based chemotherapy regimen for management of primary disease containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound required

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: GOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least lower limit of normal Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT and alkaline phosphatase no greater that 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Other: No active infection requiring antibiotics No neuropathy greater than grade 1 Not pregnant Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No prior malignancy within past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic agents Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Recovered from prior chemotherapy Patients with no prior paclitaxel therapy may receive second regimen that includes paclitaxel No other prior or concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease, including retreatment with initial chemotherapy regimens No prior topotecan Endocrine therapy: At least one week since prior hormonal therapy for malignant tumor Prior and concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed Radiotherapy: No prior or concurrent radiotherapy to target sites No prior radiotherapy to greater than 25% of bone marrow Recovered from prior radiotherapy Surgery: Recovered from prior surgery Other: No prior cancer treatment that contraindicates study