Sorafenib in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial or Peritoneal Cancer

Inclusion criteria

* Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma * Persistent or recurrent disease * Measurable or evaluable disease * Measurable disease is defined as at least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques (including palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, or MRI) OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Evaluable disease is defined as at least 1 of the following: * CA 125 ≥ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Ascites and/or pleural effusion attributed to tumor * Solid and/or cystic abnormalities on radiographic imaging that do not meet RECIST definition for target lesions * Must have received 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapeutic regimen for primary disease, including carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound * Initial treatment may have included high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment * Platinum-resistant according to 1 of the following criteria: * Treatment-free interval of \< 12 months after platinum therapy * Disease progression during platinum-based therapy * Persistent disease after a platinum-based regimen * Ineligible for higher priority GOG protocol (e.g., any active phase III GOG protocol for the same patient population) * No brain metastases * Performance status - GOG 0-2 (for patients who received 1 prior treatment regimen) * Performance status - GOG 0-1 (for patients who received 2 prior treatment regimens) * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * No known bleeding diathesis * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN * SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * No uncontrolled hypertension * Able to take oral medication * No bowel obstruction or persistent vomiting * No requirement for parenteral feedings * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 3 months after study participation * No sensory or motor neuropathy \> grade 1 * No active or ongoing infection requiring antibiotics * No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to sorafenib * No serious chronic skin conditions (i.e., psoriasis or dermatitis) that would preclude study participation * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No other uncontrolled illness * No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer * At least 3 weeks since prior immunologic agents for the malignancy * More than 4 weeks since prior mouse antibodies (for patients with evaluable disease only) * No concurrent prophylactic growth factors (e.g., filgrastim \[G-CSF\]) * No concurrent prophylactic thrombopoietic agents except in the case of recurrent grade 4 thrombocytopenia * No other concurrent biological agents for the primary tumor * See Disease Characteristics * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered * No prior non-cytotoxic chemotherapy for persistent or recurrent disease * No concurrent chemotherapy for the primary tumor * At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for the malignancy * No concurrent hormonal therapy for the primary tumor * Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * No prior radiotherapy to \> 25% of marrow-bearing areas * No concurrent radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior surgery involving the peritoneum or pleura (for patients with evaluable disease only) * Recovered from prior surgery * At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy for the malignancy * No more than 1 additional prior cytotoxic regimen for persistent or recurrent disease * No prior sorafenib * No prior anticancer treatment that would preclude study participation * No concurrent therapeutic oral anticoagulation therapy (i.e., warfarin) * Concurrent prophylactic anticoagulation (i.e., low-dose warfarin) for central venous access devices allowed provided INR is \< 1.5 * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies for the malignancy