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 oxaliplatin in treating patients who have recurrent or refractory ovarian epithelial cancer or primary peritoneal cancer that has not responded to platinum-based chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the antitumor activity of oxaliplatin by measuring response rate in patients with recurrent or refractory, platinum resistant ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma who have failed on higher priority treatment protocols. II. Determine the nature and degree of toxicity of this drug in this patient population.

OUTLINE: Patients receive oxaliplatin IV over 2 hours. Treatment continues every 21 days for a maximum of 9 courses in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. 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 within 12-14 months.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed recurrent or refractory ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma Bidimensionally measurable disease Ascites and pleural effusions are not considered measurable disease Sonography acceptable provided lesions are clearly defined on initial examination and bidimensionally measurable Must have had 1 prior platinum based chemotherapy regimen containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound for management of primary disease Initial treatment may include high dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy administered after surgical or nonsurgical assessment No additional cytotoxic chemotherapy for management of recurrent or persistent disease, including retreatment with initial chemotherapy regimens Must be considered platinum resistant or refractory Treatment free interval of less than 6 months following platinum or progression during platinum based therapy No known brain metastases Must not be eligible for a higher priority GOG protocol

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 no greater than 2.5 times ULN Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN 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 active infection requiring antibiotics No evidence of preexisting peripheral sensory neuropathy greater than grade 1, including residual neuropathy attributed to prior chemotherapy and other chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, venous stasis, and carpal tunnel syndrome) No history of allergy to platinum compounds or to antiemetics appropriate for administration in conjunction with protocol directed chemotherapy No other uncontrolled concurrent illness (e.g., ongoing or active infection) No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer and no other prior malignancy whose prior cancer treatment contraindicates this protocol therapy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 3 weeks since prior biologic therapy At least 3 weeks since prior immunotherapy No concurrent colony stimulating factors (CSFs) during first course of therapy At least 24 hours since prior CSFs during subsequent courses of therapy Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No prior oxaliplatin No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen If initial therapy did not include paclitaxel, a second regimen including paclitaxel is allowed At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered Endocrine therapy: At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at malignant tumor Concurrent continuation of hormone replacement therapy allowed Radiotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered No prior radiotherapy to sites of measurable disease used on this trial No prior radiotherapy to greater than 25% of bone marrow Surgery: At least 3 weeks since prior surgery and recovered Other: No other concurrent investigational agents No concurrent antiretroviral therapy (HAART)