Lapatinib and Topotecan in Treating Patients With Ovarian Epithelial Cancer or Primary Peritoneal Cancer That Did Not Respond to Cisplatin or Carboplatin

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma
• Must have one of the following:
• Measurable disease
• Evaluable disease AND a CA-125 value that has increased ≥ 2 times the nadir value established after debulking surgery and first-line chemotherapy, confirmed by a second measurement within the past 21 days
• If a second measurement has not been done, it can be done ≥ 7 days but < 21 days prior to study treatment
• Platinum-refractory and/or -resistant disease after first-line chemotherapy
• Patients retreated with platinum agents (i.e., second relapse) are not eligible
• Patients treated with first-line triplet therapy (e.g., on clinical trial GOG-182) are eligible
• Must have had debulking surgery
• Tissue blocks from this surgery must be available
• No CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2
• Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST ≤ 3 times ULN (5 times ULN if there is liver involvement)
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
• No uncontrolled infection
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart failure
• Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% by echocardiogram
• No seizure disorder
• No other prior or concurrent malignancy in the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior topotecan hydrochloride
• More than 4 weeks since prior surgery or procedure involving the peritoneum or pleura
• CA125 measurements used as basis for enrollment must be made outside of this 4-week window
• More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) and recovered
• More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy to > 25 % of bone marrow
• No prior therapy with an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor or anti-HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors
• No prior agents targeting topoisomerase I
• No prior or concurrent human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) in patients with non-measurable disease
• At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent herbal or dietary supplements
• Vitamin supplements are allowed unless they include herbal additives
• At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers, including any of the following:
• Rifampin
• Rifabutin
• Rifapentine
• Phenytoin
• Carbamazepine
• Phenobarbital
• Efavirenz
• Nevirapine
• Cortisone (> 50 mg)
• Hydrocortisone (> 40 mg)
• Prednisone (> 10 mg)
• Methylprednisolone (> 8 mg)
• Dexamethasone (> 1.5 mg)
• Oral doses of ≤ 1.6 mg of dexamethasone allowed
• Modafinil
• Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
• At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors, including any of the following:
• Clarithromycin
• Erythromycin
• Troleandomycin
• Itraconazole
• Ketoconazole
• Fluconazole (> 150 mg daily)
• Voriconazole
• Delaviridine
• Nelfinavir
• Amprenavir
• Ritonavir
• Indinavir
• Saquinavir
• Lopinavir
• Verapamil
• Diltiazem
• Nefazodone
• Fluvoxamine
• Cimetidine
• Aprepitant
• Grapefruit or grapefruit juice
• At least 6 months since prior and no concurrent amiodarone
• No concurrent participation in another study involving a pharmacologic agent (e.g., drugs, biologics, immunotherapy, gene therapy) for symptom control or therapeutic intent