Folate Receptor in Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer Using Serum Samples From Patients With Newly Diagnosed Pelvic Mass or Previously Diagnosed Ovarian Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

For study Arm 1, female subjects of childbearing potential or less than 2 years postmenopausal agree to use an acceptable form of contraception from the time of signing informed consent until 30 days after study completion unless total hysterectomy performed at the time of original operation
Able to provide informed consent
Performance status Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2
Study Arm 1: primary diagnosis of a pelvic or adnexal mass of presumed gynecologic origin who is scheduled for operative resection
Study Arm 2: previously diagnosed with a non-mucinous epithelial ovarian carcinoma (including serous, clear cell, and endometrioid histologies as well as borderline ovarian tumors) currently undergoing routine surveillance for recurrence, having been diagnosed with recurrence but prior to initiation of chemotherapy. . Patients from Study Arm 1 will automatically be included in Study Arm 2 as well unless they withdraw consent. Finally, patients who have been diagnosed with an ovarian cancer of acceptable histology but not yet initiated adjuvant chemotherapy are eligible for Study Arm 2.

Exclusion Criteria:

Known sarcomatous histologies
Current usage of VPA or Dex, if patient has been on these medications in the past but is not currently taking them she is still a candidate for the study. Prior use must be greater than one month for VPA. There is no "wash out" period required for DEX.
Any contraindication to dexamethasone or valproic acid such as known allergies or sensitivity
Unable to give informed consent
Pregnancy
Greater than 3 x the upper limit of normal (ULN) for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
Greater than 3 x the ULN for total bilirubin (except for known cases of Gilbert's syndrome, where the levels of conjugated bilirubin must be less than 3 x the ULN)
Greater than 1.5 x the ULN for blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
Greater than 1.5 x the ULN for creatinine
Chronic or acute pancreatitis as evidenced by clinical or pathologic diagnosis
Significant acute or chronic medical, neurologic, or psychiatric illness in the subject that, in the judgment of the Investigator, could compromise subject safety, limit the subject's ability to complete the study, and/or compromise the objectives of the study
For study Arm 2, patients that are currently undergoing chemotherapy for recurrence; maintenance chemotherapy is not considered an exclusion criteria. Additionally, as noted above if a patient has not yet begun chemotherapy for recurrence or adjuvant chemotherapy for initial diagnosis they are still a candidate to be enrolled on this Study arm.