RATIONALE: Imatinib mesylate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth.

PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of imatinib mesylate in treating patients who have persistent or recurrent ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cancer.

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine the cytostatic antitumor activity of imatinib mesylate, in terms of 6-month progression-free survival, in patients with persistent or recurrent ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma.
• Determine the frequency and severity of adverse effects of this drug in these patients.
• Determine the distribution of overall and progression-free survival in patients treated with this drug.
• Determine the clinical response rate (partial response and complete response) in patients treated with this drug.
• Determine the effects of this drug on initial performance status, platinum sensitivity, and mucinous (or clear cell) histology in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

Patients receive oral imatinib mesylate twice daily on days 1-28. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 3 years, and then annually thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 22-60 patients will be accrued for this study within 4-15 months.

• Ovarian Cancer
• Peritoneal Cavity Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma

  • Recurrent or persistent disease

• At least 1 unidimensionally measurable target lesion

  • At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  • Tumors within a previously irradiated field considered nontarget lesions

• At least one prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen (containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound) for primary disease required

  • Initial treatment may include high-dose, consolidation, or extended therapy
  • Initial treatment-free interval less than 12 months for patients who received only 1 prior platinum-based regimen
  • Initial treatment-free interval of more than 12 months allowed provided disease progression has occurred within 12 months after retreatment with a second-line platinum-based regimen
• Ineligible for a higher priority GOG protocol (e.g., any active phase III GOG protocol for the same patient population)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• GOG 0-2 (if patient has received one prior treatment regimen)
• GOG 0-1 (if patient has received two prior treatment regimens)

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT/SGPT no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 3 months after study participation
• No active infection requiring antibiotics
• No greater than grade 1 sensory and motor neuropathy
• No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No signs or symptoms of bowel dysfunction

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 3 weeks since prior immunologic therapy directed at the malignant tumor
• No concurrent biologic therapy or immunotherapy for the malignant tumor

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior chemotherapy
• No prior noncytotoxic chemotherapy for persistent or recurrent disease
• One additional cytotoxic regimen for persistent or recurrent disease allowed
• No concurrent chemotherapy for the malignant tumor

Endocrine therapy:

• At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at the malignant tumor
• No concurrent therapeutic corticosteroids
• No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy
• Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of marrow-bearing areas
• No concurrent anticancer radiotherapy

Surgery:

• Recovered from recent prior surgery

Other:

• At least 3 weeks since other prior therapies directed at the malignant tumor
• No prior imatinib mesylate
• No prior anticancer therapy that would preclude study participation
• No concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation with warfarin
• No other concurrent investigational drugs
• No concurrent amifostine or other protective reagents