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