OBJECTIVES: I. Compare survival of patients with stage IIB, III, or IV ovarian epithelial carcinoma after receiving treatment with paclitaxel and carboplatin with or without topotecan. II. Compare progression-free survival of these patients after receiving these treatment regimens. III. Compare the response rate and response duration in these patients treated with these regimens. IV. Determine the toxic effects of the combination of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and topotecan in these patients. V. Compare the toxic effects of these treatment regimens in these patients. VI. Compare quality of life of these patients treated with these regimens.