DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cavity cancer

• Recurrent or persistent disease

  • Disease progression during OR persistent disease after completion of 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen (containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or other organoplatinum compound) for primary disease

    • Initial treatment may have included high-dose, consolidation, noncytotoxic agents, or extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment
    • Treatment-free interval after completion of platinum-based chemotherapy must have been < 12 months
• Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable target* lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques (e.g., palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, or MRI) OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan NOTE: *Tumors within a previously irradiated field are not considered target lesions unless there has been subsequent disease progression at least 90 days after prior radiotherapy
• Not eligible for a higher priority GOG protocol (i.e., any active phase III GOG protocol for the same patient population)
• No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• GOG 0-1

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

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

Hepatic

• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia

Gastrointestinal

• Able to take oral medication
• No bowel obstruction
• No persistent vomiting
• No parenteral feeding

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 1 month after completion of study treatment
• No neuropathy (sensory and motor) > grade 1
• No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No active infection requiring antibiotics
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to vorinostat
• No other uncontrolled illness

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy for the malignancy

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) for the malignancy and recovered
• No more than 2 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens for recurrent or persistent disease
• No prior non-cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease, unless therapy was part of the primary treatment regimen
• No prior vorinostat

Endocrine therapy

• At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for the malignancy
• Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy for the malignancy and recovered
• No prior radiotherapy to > 25% of bone marrow

Surgery

• At least 4 weeks since prior surgery for the malignancy and recovered

Other

• At least 4 weeks since other prior therapy for the malignancy
• At least 30 days since prior and no concurrent valproic acid
• Concurrent oral anticoagulants (i.e., warfarin) allowed provided there is increased vigilance with respect to monitoring PT/INR for the first 2 courses of study therapy or if there are any signs of bleeding
• No prior anticancer therapy that would preclude study participation
• No concurrent combination anti-retroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No other concurrent investigational agents