DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial carcinoma

* Stage III or IV disease at time of initial staging laparotomy
* Primary peritoneal and mixed Mullerian tumors allowed
* No borderline ovarian tumors
* Disease progression or recurrence after a progression-free and platinum-free interval of 6-24 months after completion of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy (either single agent or combination therapy)
* Disease progression or recurrence based solely on CA 125 elevation allowed, provided that one of the following is true:

* Prior baseline CA 125 greater than 35 U/mL and subsequent normalization of no greater than 35 U/mL must have CA 125 greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) on 2 occasions at least 1 week apart
* Prior baseline CA 125 greater than 35 U/mL that never normalized must have CA 125 greater than 2 times the nadir value on 2 occasions at least 1 week apart
* Prior normal baseline CA 125 (no greater than 35 U/mL) must show CA 125 greater than 2 times ULN on 2 occasions at least 1 week apart
* No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* Not specified

Performance status

* Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy

* Not specified

Hematopoietic

* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL

Hepatic

* SGOT and/or SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN
* Bilirubin no greater than ULN

Renal

* Creatinine no greater than 1.9 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

* No New York Heart Association class II-IV cardiac disease
* No clinical evidence of congestive heart failure
* Ejection fraction greater than 50% by MUGA or 2-dimensional echocardiogram

Other

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or incidental carcinoid cancer
* No evidence of active or uncontrolled infection
* No severe gastrointestinal symptoms (i.e., partial obstruction) and/or gastrointestinal bleeding or diarrhea
* No greater than grade 1 preexisting sensory neuropathy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* At least 28 days since prior biologic consolidation therapy
* No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 28 days since prior non-platinum-containing consolidation chemotherapy
* No prior pegylated doxorubicin HCl liposome
* No prior cumulative anthracycline (e.g., doxorubicin, daunorubicin, epirubicin) dose in excess of 240 mg/m\^2
* No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

* No concurrent hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy

* No prior abdominopelvic irradiation
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 28 days since prior surgical debulking for disease progression or recurrence and recovered
* No concurrent surgery

Other

* No other prior treatment during the 6-24 month progression-free and platinum-free interval except up to 12 courses of consolidation therapy
* No other concurrent anticancer therapy