Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed recurrent ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, or primary
peritoneal cancer for which no standard curative therapy exists

- At least 1 measurable lesion

- At least 20 mm by x-ray, non-spiral CT scan, or physical exam OR at least 10 mm
by spiral CT scan

- Ascites and bone metastases not considered measurable disease

- No abdominal adenocarcinoma of unknown origin or borderline ovarian tumor

- No elevated CA 125 as only evidence of disease

- At least 1 but no more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens required

- First regimen must have contained cisplatin or carboplatin

- Switching platinum compounds due to disease progression or failure to respond is
considered 2 regimens

- Same regimen as first- and second-line therapy is considered 2 regimens

- Responded to prior platinum-based first-line chemotherapy

- No platinum-refractory disease

- No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

- At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

- Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)

- AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than ULN

Cardiovascular:

- No symptomatic congestive heart failure

- No unstable angina

- No cardiac arrhythmia

Gastrointestinal:

- See Surgery

- No GI tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication or requiring IV
alimentation

- No uncontrolled inflammatory GI disease (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)

- No active peptic ulcer disease

Ophthalmic:

- No ocular inflammation or infection

- No significant ophthalmologic abnormalities, including:

- History of dry eye syndrome, Sjögren's syndrome, or keratoconjunctivitis sicca

- Severe exposure keratopathy

- Disorders that might increase the risk for epithelium-related complications
(e.g., bullous keratopathy, aniridia, severe chemical burns, or neutrophilic
keratitis)

- Congenital abnormality (e.g., Fuch's dystrophy)

- Abnormal slit-lamp examination using a vital dye (e.g., fluorescein or
Bengal-Rose)

- Abnormal corneal sensitivity test (e.g., Schirmer test or similar tear
production test)

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No prior allergic reaction to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition
to erlotinib

- No other serious illness, medical condition, or significant neurologic or psychiatric
disorder that would preclude study therapy

- No active uncontrolled infection

- No grade 3 or greater drug-related neurotoxicity

- No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated nonmelanoma
skin cancer or curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- Not specified

Chemotherapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas)

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (except low-dose palliative radiotherapy)
and recovered

Surgery:

- At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery (wound healing must have occurred)

- No prior surgical procedures affecting gastrointestinal (GI) absorption

- No concurrent ophthalmic surgery

Other:

- No prior therapy targeting epidermal growth factor receptor

- No other concurrent anticancer therapy

- No other concurrent investigational agents

- Concurrent oral anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) allowed provided INR is monitored