Inclusion Criteria:

- Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cancer

- Recurrent or persistent disease

- At least 1 unidimensionally measurable target lesion

- At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan

- Outside a previously irradiated field

- Received 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen (e.g., carboplatin, cisplatin,
or other organoplatinum compound) for primary disease

- Initial treatment may have included high-dose, consolidation, or extended
therapy after surgical or non-surgical assessment

- Considered platinum resistant or refractory, according to 1 of the following
criteria:

- Treatment-free interval of less than 6 months after platinum-based therapy

- Disease progression during platinum-based therapy

- Ineligible for any higher priority GOG protocol

- 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

- SGOT and SGPT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN

- Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN

- No serious cardiac disease

- No prior myocardial infarction

- No uncontrolled congestive heart failure

- No pulmonary disease requiring oxygen

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- Neuropathy (sensory and motor) ≤ grade 1

- No active infections requiring antibiotics

- No hearing impairment

- No known G6PD deficiency

- No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer

- At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic agents for malignant tumor

- One prior non-cytotoxic regimen (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, or
small-molecule inhibitors of signal transduction) allowed

- See Disease Characteristics

- One prior paclitaxel-containing regimen allowed

- No prior 3-AP

- No other prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease, including
retreatment with initial chemotherapy regimens

- Recovered from prior chemotherapy

- At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for malignant tumor

- Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed

- No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of marrow-bearing areas

- Recovered from prior radiotherapy

- Recovered from prior surgery

- No prior cancer therapy that contraindicates receiving study therapy