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