Veliparib in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients must have recurrent or persistent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal carcinoma AND carry a germline mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 (confirmation required via Myriad test report); histologic documentation of the original primary tumor is required via the pathology report
• All patients must have measurable disease as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(RECIST)1.1; measurable disease is defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded); each lesion must be >= 10 mm when measured by computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or caliper measurement by clinical exam; or >= 20 mm when measured by chest x-ray; lymph nodes must be >= 15 mm in short axis when measured by CT or MRI
• Patient must have at least one "target lesion" to be used to assess response on this protocol as defined by RECIST; tumors within a previously irradiated field will be designated as "non-target" lesions unless progression is documented or a biopsy is obtained to confirm persistence at least 90 days following completion of radiation therapy
• Patients who have received one prior cytotoxic regimen must have a Gynecological Oncology Group (GOG) performance status of 0, 1, or 2
• Patients who have received two or three prior cytotoxic regimens must have a GOG performance status of 0 or 1
• Recovery from effects of recent surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy
• Patients should be free of active infection requiring antibiotics (with the exception of uncomplicated urinary tract infection [UTI])
• Any hormonal therapy directed at the malignant tumor must be discontinued at least one week prior to registration; continuation of hormone replacement therapy is permitted
• Any other prior therapy directed at the malignant tumor, including chemotherapy, biologic/targeted (non-cytotoxic) agents and immunologic agents, must be discontinued at least three weeks prior to registration; patients receiving nitrosoureas or mitomycin C must discontinue 6 weeks prior to registration
• Any prior radiation therapy must be discontinued at least four weeks prior to registration
• Prior therapy
• Patients must have had one prior platinum-based chemotherapeutic regimen for management of primary disease containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound; this initial treatment may have included intraperitoneal therapy, consolidation, biologic/targeted (non-cytotoxic) agents or extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment
• Patients are allowed to receive, but are not required to receive, two additional cytotoxic regimens for management of recurrent or persistent disease
• Patients are allowed to receive, but are not required to receive, biologic/targeted (non-cytotoxic) therapy for management of recurrent or persistent disease; patients are allowed to receive, but are not required to receive, biologic/targeted (non-cytotoxic) therapy as part of their primary treatment regimen
• Patients with both platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant disease are eligible; patients with platinum-refractory disease are NOT eligible
• Definitions:
• Platinum sensitive ovarian cancer is defined as patients who respond to platinum-based therapy (complete or partial) and then progress/recur more than 6 months after their last platinum dose (i.e., platinum-free interval is > 6 months)
• Platinum resistant ovarian cancer is defined as patients who respond to platinum-based therapy (complete or partial) and then progress/recur within 6 months of their last platinum dose (i.e., platinum-free interval is = 3 months after treatment and off steroid treatment prior to study enrollment
• Inability or unwillingness to swallow pills
• Patients with clinical symptoms or signs of gastrointestinal obstruction and/or who require parenteral hydration or nutrition
• Patients who are pregnant or nursing