Erlotinib and Carboplatin in Recurrent Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed recurrent ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer for which no standard curative therapy exists
• At least 1 measurable lesion
• * At least 20 mm by x-ray, non-spiral CT scan, or physical exam OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• * Ascites and bone metastases not considered measurable disease
• No abdominal adenocarcinoma of unknown origin or borderline ovarian tumor
• No elevated CA 125 as only evidence of disease
• At least 1 but no more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens required
• * First regimen must have contained cisplatin or carboplatin
• * Switching platinum compounds due to disease progression or failure to respond is considered 2 regimens
• * Same regimen as first- and second-line therapy is considered 2 regimens
• Responded to prior platinum-based first-line chemotherapy
• * No platinum-refractory disease
• No known brain metastases
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 12 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than ULN
• Cardiovascular:
• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina
• No cardiac arrhythmia
• Gastrointestinal:
• See Surgery
• No GI tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication or requiring IV alimentation
• No uncontrolled inflammatory GI disease (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
• No active peptic ulcer disease
• Ophthalmic:
• No ocular inflammation or infection
• No significant ophthalmologic abnormalities, including:
• * History of dry eye syndrome, Sjögren's syndrome, or keratoconjunctivitis sicca
• * Severe exposure keratopathy
• * Disorders that might increase the risk for epithelium-related complications (e.g., bullous keratopathy, aniridia, severe chemical burns, or neutrophilic keratitis)
• * Congenital abnormality (e.g., Fuch's dystrophy)
• * Abnormal slit-lamp examination using a vital dye (e.g., fluorescein or Bengal-Rose)
• * Abnormal corneal sensitivity test (e.g., Schirmer test or similar tear production test)
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No prior allergic reaction to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to erlotinib
• No other serious illness, medical condition, or significant neurologic or psychiatric disorder that would preclude study therapy
• No active uncontrolled infection
• No grade 3 or greater drug-related neurotoxicity
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas)
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (except low-dose palliative radiotherapy) and recovered
• Surgery:
• At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery (wound healing must have occurred)
• No prior surgical procedures affecting gastrointestinal (GI) absorption
• No concurrent ophthalmic surgery
• Other:
• No prior therapy targeting epidermal growth factor receptor
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• Concurrent oral anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) allowed provided INR is monitored