Gene Therapy and Biological Therapy in Treating Patients With Ovarian Epithelial Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven recurrent, resected recurrent, or residual ovarian epithelial cancer
• Failed prior standard effective therapy including cisplatin/carboplatin or paclitaxel
• Tumor positive for folate-binding protein by monoclonal antibody MOv18 binding
• Measurable disease by CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, or physical exam OR
• Minimal residual disease on laparotomy, laparoscopy, or peritoneal washings (i.e., disease not evaluable radiologically or on physical exam)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0 or 1

Hematopoietic:

• WBC greater than 3,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin greater than 9.0 g/dL
• No coagulation disorder

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• Other liver function tests less than 3 times upper limit of normal
• Hepatitis B antigen negative

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• No major cardiovascular illness
• If history of ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, or cardiac arrhythmias, not eligible to receive interleukin-2

Pulmonary:

• FEV_1 and DLCO greater than 70% predicted
• No major respiratory illness

Immunologic:

• Must have an intact immune system as evidenced by a positive reaction to Candida albicans, mumps, or tetanus toxoid skin tests on a standard anergy panel
• HIV negative
• No active systemic infection

Other:

• Not pregnant
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• More than 2 weeks since prior biologic therapy

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• More than 2 weeks since prior endocrine therapy
• No concurrent steroids

Radiotherapy:

• More than 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Prior debulking allowed