Lapatinib and Topotecan in Treating Patients With Ovarian Epithelial Cancer or Primary Peritoneal Cancer That Did Not Respond to Cisplatin or Carboplatin

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma

Must have one of the following:

Measurable disease

Evaluable disease AND a CA-125 value that has increased ≥ 2 times the nadir value established after debulking surgery and first-line chemotherapy, confirmed by a second measurement within the past 21 days

If a second measurement has not been done, it can be done ≥ 7 days but < 21 days prior to study treatment

Platinum-refractory and/or -resistant disease after first-line chemotherapy

Patients retreated with platinum agents (i.e., second relapse) are not eligible
Patients treated with first-line triplet therapy (e.g., on clinical trial GOG-182) are eligible

Must have had debulking surgery

Tissue blocks from this surgery must be available
No CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2
Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks
Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
AST ≤ 3 times ULN (5 times ULN if there is liver involvement)
Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
No uncontrolled infection
No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart failure
Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% by echocardiogram
No seizure disorder
No other prior or concurrent malignancy in the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

See Disease Characteristics
No prior topotecan hydrochloride

More than 4 weeks since prior surgery or procedure involving the peritoneum or pleura

CA125 measurements used as basis for enrollment must be made outside of this 4-week window
More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) and recovered
More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy
More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
No prior radiotherapy to > 25 % of bone marrow
No prior therapy with an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor or anti-HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors
No prior agents targeting topoisomerase I
No prior or concurrent human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) in patients with non-measurable disease

At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent herbal or dietary supplements

Vitamin supplements are allowed unless they include herbal additives

At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers, including any of the following:

Rifampin
Rifabutin
Rifapentine
Phenytoin
Carbamazepine
Phenobarbital
Efavirenz
Nevirapine
Cortisone (> 50 mg)
Hydrocortisone (> 40 mg)
Prednisone (> 10 mg)
Methylprednisolone (> 8 mg)

Dexamethasone (> 1.5 mg)

Oral doses of ≤ 1.6 mg of dexamethasone allowed
Modafinil
Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)

At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors, including any of the following:

Clarithromycin
Erythromycin
Troleandomycin
Itraconazole
Ketoconazole
Fluconazole (> 150 mg daily)
Voriconazole
Delaviridine
Nelfinavir
Amprenavir
Ritonavir
Indinavir
Saquinavir
Lopinavir
Verapamil
Diltiazem
Nefazodone
Fluvoxamine
Cimetidine
Aprepitant
Grapefruit or grapefruit juice
At least 6 months since prior and no concurrent amiodarone
No concurrent participation in another study involving a pharmacologic agent (e.g., drugs, biologics, immunotherapy, gene therapy) for symptom control or therapeutic intent