Combination Chemotherapy Regimens in Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Primary Peritoneal Cancer, or Fallopian Tube Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed stage IIB-IV ovarian epithelial, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer

• No borderline ovarian tumors

• Residual disease allowed

• Fine needle aspiration showing an adenocarcinoma is allowed instead of open or true-cut biopsy if the following are true:

• Presence of pelvic mass AND

• Omental cake or other metastasis larger than 2 cm in the upper abdomen unless proven stage IV disease AND

• Serum CA 125/carcinoembryonic antigen ratio at least 25 (if less than 25, a barium enema or colonoscopy and gastroscopy or radiological examination of the stomach should be negative for primary tumor within 6 weeks of study) AND

• Normal mammography within 6 weeks of study

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 to 75

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

• At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

• Granulocyte count at least 2,000/mm^3

• Platelet count at least 150,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Not specified

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than upper limit of normal

Cardiovascular:

• No clinically relevant atrial or ventricular arrhythmias

• No myocardial infarction (MI) within the past 6 months (pretreatment ECG as only evidence of MI allowed)

• No history of second- or third-degree heart blocks unless pacemaker implanted

• History of first-degree heart block allowed

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

• No complete bowel obstruction

• No prior allergic reaction to drugs containing Cremophor EL or compounds chemically related to study drugs

• No condition that would preclude high-volume saline diuresis

• No significant neurologic or psychiatric disorder that would preclude study compliance

• No active uncontrolled infection

• No neuropathy greater than grade 1

• No pre-existing hearing loss greater than grade 1

• No other concurrent serious illness or medical condition that would preclude study participation

• 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:

• No concurrent biological response modifiers or immunotherapy

• No concurrent prophylactic colony-stimulating factors (CSFs)

• Concurrent therapeutic CSFs allowed

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy for ovarian cancer

• No other concurrent cytotoxic agents

Endocrine therapy:

• No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy for ovarian cancer

Surgery:

• No more than 6 weeks since prior planned pre-chemotherapy surgery for ovarian cancer

• Planned interval debulking allowed

• Concurrent second-look surgery allowed

Other:

• No prior non-surgical therapy for ovarian cancer

• No other concurrent investigational drug therapy

• No other concurrent anticancer treatment

• Concurrent enrollment on CAN-NCIC-OV13/EORTC 55971 allowed