DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial carcinoma not amenable to curative surgery or radiotherapy

  • Evidence of recurrence or progression 6 months after discontinuation of prior first-line platinum-containing regimen
• No tumor of borderline malignancy
• Evaluable disease outside previously irradiated area
• No CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

• Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3

Hepatic:

• Not specified

Renal:

• Glomerular filtration rate greater than 50 mL/min

Other:

• No concurrent active infection
• No other primary malignancy except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or adequately treated basal cell skin cancer
• No other concurrent serious systemic disorder

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No more than 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen
• No prior gemcitabine
• No other concurrent cytotoxic or antineoplastic treatment

Endocrine therapy:

• At least 3 weeks since prior hormonal therapy
• Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed
• Concurrent steroid antiemetics allowed

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy (limited to the small pelvis)
• Concurrent palliative radiotherapy to nontarget lesions allowed

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics

Other:

• At least 3 weeks since other prior investigational agents