RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation directly into the abdomen may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of intraperitoneal paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation in treating patients with advanced cancer of the peritoneal cavity.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the maximally tolerated dose (MTD) of nab-paclitaxel as a single agent administered intraperitoneally via an intraperitoneal catheter.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) in the plasma and peritoneum when it is administered directly into the peritoneal cavity. II. To determine the potential pharmacokinetic advantage (favorable ratio of nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) concentration in the peritoneal cavity vs. plasma) for nab-paclitaxel administered intraperitoneally. III. To determine the progression of peripheral neuropathy in patients treated with intraperitoneal chemotherapy on this study through pre-treatment and sequential evaluation of the Neuropathic Pain Syndrome Inventory and Serial Nerve Conduction Studies.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study. Patients receive paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation given intraperitoneally (IP) on days 1, 8, and 15. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for 4 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must have histological confirmed advanced cancer primarily confined to the peritoneal cavity which have progressed on previous chemotherapeutic regimens, or for which no "standard" chemotherapeutic regimens exist
• Prior taxane exposure is allowed; prior IP chemotherapy is allowed, if it was not complicated by peritoneal adhesions; patients with ovarian cancer having residual disease at second-look laparotomy or following secondary debulking are also eligible; patients must be 4-6 weeks after surgery and they must have recovered from the surgery prior to initiating IP chemotherapy
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) less than or equal to 2
• Life expectancy of greater than 3 months
• Absolute neutrophil count > 1,500/mcL
• Platelets > 100,000/mcL
• Total bilirubin within normal institutional limits
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase [SGPT]) < 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal
• Creatinine within normal institutional limits or creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min/1.73 m^2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal
• Documentation of measurable disease (with baseline measurements taken with 4 weeks of study entry, when present and appropriate); presence of measurable disease is not, per se, a prerequisite for entry onto this study
• Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation; should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) prior to entering the study or those who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administer more than 4 weeks earlier; there is no limit on the number of prior lines of chemotherapy
• Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents
• Patients with known brain metastases should be excluded from this clinical trial because of their poor prognosis and because they often develop progressive neurologic dysfunction that would confound the evaluation of neurologic and other adverse events
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to nab-paclitaxel
• Patients with ongoing abdominal infections or bowel obstruction
• Patients with known peritoneal adhesions that preclude the placement of an intraperitoneal catheter in the opinion of the surgeon placing the intraperitoneal catheter
• Pre-existing grade >= 2 sensory neuropathy
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
• Pregnant women are excluded from this study; breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with nab-paclitaxel
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients on combination antiretroviral therapy
• "Massive Ascites" requiring therapeutic paracentesis, will not be cause for ineligibility, per se, it will be evaluated on an individual basis; investigators who have any questions regarding assessing ascites are asked to speak with the Principal Investigator