Intraperitoneal vs Intravenous Chemotherapy Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Ovarian Cancer

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial, primary serous type peritoneal, or fallopian tube carcinoma * Patients with ovarian cancer of the clear cell histology are eligible. Histologic confirmation is preferably by biopsy or limited excision prior to neo-adjuvant treatment. If the diagnosis prior to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy is based on cytology, histologic confirmation is required prior to randomization. Histologic confirmation can be obtained at the time of debulking surgery by intra-operative frozen section, thus permitting intra-operative randomization, or by final pathologic review of the resected specimen if randomization is to be performed following debulking surgery. * Initial FIGO stage IIB-III disease * Stage IV disease allowed provided the only criterion for stage IV disease is the presence of a pleural effusion confirmed to be associated with positive cytology for ovarian cancer * Completed ≥ 3 but no more than 4 courses of platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to the first debulking surgery * Meets the following criteria for surgical treatment prior to randomization: * Initial Diagnosis: No debulking surgery was attempted or completed. * The patient's first cytoreductive (debulking) surgery must be after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (Delayed Primary Debulking). The delayed primary debulking surgery must be completed no more than 4 weeks after commencing administering of the last cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and must be completed no more than 6 weeks prior to randomization. * Surgery will include total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy and any additional procedures required to achieve maximal cytoreduction with residual disease of 1 cm or less as assessed by the surgeon at the end of surgery. * Delayed primary debulking surgery must be completed no more than 4 weeks after the last course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and must be completed no more than 6 weeks prior to randomization * Surgery will include total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, and any additional procedures required to achieve maximal cytoreduction with residual disease of ≤ 1 cm as assessed by the surgeon at the end of surgery * No borderline ovarian tumors (i.e., tumors of low malignant potential) alone * No mucinous tumor PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks * Granulocyte count ≥ 1.5 x 10\^9/L * Platelet count ≥ 100 x 10\^9/L * Serum creatinine ≤ upper limit of normal (ULN) OR \> ULN to ≤ 1.25 ULN provided measured creatinine clearance is \> 60 mL/min * Serum bilirubin normal * AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Able (i.e., sufficiently fluent) and willing to complete the quality of life questionnaires * Accessible for treatment and follow-up * No history of other malignancy, except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer, curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other solid tumors curatively treated with no evidence of disease for ≥ 5 years * No uncontrolled atrial or ventricular arrhythmias including second or third degree heart block unless managed with implanted pacemaker * Patients with a history of first degree heart block are eligible * No documented myocardial infarction within the past 6 months preceding randomization (pretreatment ECG evidence only of infarct will not exclude patients) * No diagnosis of bowel obstruction * No serious illness or medical condition which would not permit the patient to be managed according to protocol including, but not limited to, any of the following: * Prior allergic reactions to drugs containing cremophor or to compounds chemically related to cisplatin, paclitaxel, or carboplatin * Symptomatic congestive heart failure within the past 6 months or other conditions which would lead to a contraindication of a high-volume saline diuresis * History of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorder which would impair the ability to obtain consent * Active uncontrolled infection * Persistent peripheral neuropathy or hearing loss ≥ grade 2 resulting from prior therapy * Extensive intraperitoneal adhesion intra- or post-operatively which would impede intraperitoneal treatment delivery PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior therapy for ovarian cancer, except for neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy and surgery * No concurrent intraperitoneal adhesion barriers * No other concurrent anticancer treatment, including cytotoxic agents, biological response modifiers, immunotherapy, anticancer hormone therapy, or investigational drug therapy * No other concurrent experimental drugs or anticancer therapy