Metformin and Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Stage III-IV Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR PRE-REGISTRATION * A reasonable suspicion of ovarian cancer by the treating oncologist is required, evidenced by abdominal carcinomatosis, omental caking, pleural effusions or ascites AND an elevated CA125 \> 250 OR CA125:carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) ratio \> 25 OR CA125 =\< 250 with no evidence of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer * Aged 18 years or older * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =\< 2 * Leukocytes \>= 3,000/mcL * Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mcL * Platelets \>= 100,000/mcL * Total bilirubin =\< upper normal institutional limits (except for patients with Gilbert's disease who are eligible despite elevated serum bilirubin level) * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase \[SGPT\]) =\< 2.0 × institutional upper limit of normal * Creatinine =\< institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 * Blood glucose =\< 126 mg/dL fasting or =\< 140 mg/dL nonfasting * Signed written pre-registration informed consent document ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR REGISTRATION: * Histologically confirmed carcinoma consistent with ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal carcinoma * Subjects undergoing primary debulking surgery must have stage III or IV disease and have undergone surgery to include, at a minimum, removal of the uterus, ovaries and fallopia…