Vorinostat, Carboplatin and Gemcitabine in Women With Recurrent, Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer

This trial is a Phase Ib/II study of carboplatin/gemcitabine/vorinostat for the treatment of platinum sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer. The carboplatin and gemcitabine combination is an FDA approved regimen for platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer. Vorinostat is a type of drug called a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDAC inhibitor). HDAC inhibitors interact with chromosomes in the cancer cell and cause cancer cells to stop growing. Vorinostat has shown a decrease in the amount of ovarian cancer cells growing in the laboratory and also may enhance the anti-cancer effects of carboplatin.The purpose of the Phase Ib study is to determine the highest dose of the drug vorinostat that can be given safely in combination with carboplatin and gemcitabine. Not everyone who participates in this research study will receive the same dose of the study drug, vorinostat, but carboplatin and gemcitabine doses are held constant. Vorinostat doses depend on previous enrollment and tolerability. The expansion Phase II study uses the vorinostat dose found in the Phase Ib study in combination with carboplatin/gemcitabine and as a single agent maintenance therapy to better understand toxicity and efficacy.