Ixabepilone in Treating Patients With Ovarian Epithelial or Primary Peritoneal Cancer That Has Not Responded to Previous Chemotherapy

Inclusion criteria

* Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial cancer or primary peritoneal cancer * Recurrent or persistent disease * Platinum AND taxane-resistant or refractory disease * Progressed during therapy * Refractory disease within 6 months of therapy * Measurable disease * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques * At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Tumor lesions located within a previously irradiated field are not considered measurable disease unless there is documented tumor progression in these lesions or biopsy confirmation ≥ 90 days following completion of radiotherapy * Ineligible for higher priority GOG (Gynecologic Oncology Group) protocol * No active brain metastases * Performance status - GOG 0-2 * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * SGOT (serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase) ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN * No sensory or motor neuropathy \> grade 1 * No dementia or altered mental status * No other serious uncontrolled medical disorder * No active infection requiring antibiotics * No prior hypersensitivity reaction to paclitaxel or other therapy containing Cremophor EL * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * At least 3 weeks since prior biologic therapy * At least 3 weeks since prior immunotherapy * Must have received: * 1 prior combination taxane-based and platinum-based chemotherapy regimen * 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen AND 1 prior taxane-based chemotherapy regimen * Initial treatment may include high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered * No prior ixabepilone * No other prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease, including treatment with initial regimen * At least 1 week since prior hormonal anticancer therapy * Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * No prior radiotherapy to site(s) of measurable disease * No radiotherapy to \> 25% of marrow-containing areas * Recovered from recent surgery * At least 3 weeks since other anticancer therapy * No prior anticancer therapy that precludes study participation * No concurrent food supplements (e.g., St. John's wort) * No concurrent amifostine or other protective agents