DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed previously untreated ovarian cancer, fallopian tube carcinoma, papillary serous cancer of the uterus, or primary peritoneal carcinoma

  • Suboptimally debulked stage III or suboptimally or optimally debulked stage IV

• Measurable or evaluable disease

  • CNS lesions, lytic bone lesions, and radiated lesions (unless there is documented progression after radiotherapy) are not considered measurable
  • CA 125 levels above 49 units/mL in the absence of cirrhosis or nonmalignant gross ascites are considered evaluable
• Ineligible for other high-priority national or institutional study

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Over 18

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

• More than 2 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC greater than 3,000/mm3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT and/or SGPT less than 2.5 times ULN OR
• SGOT and/or SGPT no greater than 2.5 times ULN if alkaline phosphatase no greater than ULN OR
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 4 times ULN if SGOT and/or SGPT no greater than ULN
• No SGOT and/or SGPT greater than 1.5 times ULN with alkaline phosphatase greater than 2.5 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase less than 350 U/L

Renal:

• BUN less than 1.5 times normal
• Creatinine less than 1.5 times ULN

Other:

• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or skin cancer
• No other serious medical or psychiatric illness
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• No concurrent hormone therapy

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics