A RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED TRIAL OF SALVAGE THERAPY WITH PACLITAXEL AND CARBOPLATIN VERSU SALVAGE THERAPY WITH STEM CELL SUPPORTED HIGH-DOSE CARBOPLATIN, MITOXANTRONE AND CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE IN PATIENTS WITH PERSISTENT LOW VOLUME OVARIAN CANCER AND RESPONSE TO PRIMARY THERAPY

Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed stage III or IV ovarian epithelial
carcinoma including the following cellular diagnoses: Serous adenocarcinoma Mucinous
adenocarcinoma Endometrioid adenocarcinoma Clear cell adenocarcinoma Undifferentiated
carcinoma Mixed epithelial carcinoma Transitional cell carcinoma Malignant Brenner's Tumor
Stage III (optimal or suboptimal) must be surgically reassessed OR Stage III (suboptimal)
or stage IV clinically reassessed after induction chemotherapy For stage III surgical
reassessment: No more than 12 weeks between end of chemotherapy and reassessment surgery
AND No more than 6 weeks between reassessment surgery and randomization Patients treated
on protocol GOG-158 are eligible At least a partial response to chemotherapy as defined
as: Microscopic disease documented at reassessment surgery for patients optimally debulked
(disease no greater than 1 cm) after primary surgery Suboptimally debulked disease
(greater than 1 cm) after primary surgery and 1 of the following: Negative reassessment
laparotomy Only microscopic disease at reassessment surgery Gross residual disease no
greater than 1 cm at reassessment surgery prior to debulking Clinical complete response to
induction chemotherapy including: - suboptimal disease Stage III or IV AND - either an
abnormal CT or elevated CA-125 prior to induction chemotherapy and both are within normal
limits following induction chemotherapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Under 66 Performance status: GOG 0 or 1 Hematopoietic:
Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic:
Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL AST no greater than 3 times normal Renal: Creatinine
clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: Left ventricular ejection fraction at least
45% by MUGA No congestive heart failure Pulmonary: FEV1 and FVC at least 60% Other: Not
pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective
contraception No prior malignancy in the past 5 years except adequately treated
nonmelanomatous skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or any other cancer whose
prior treatment does not contraindicate this study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: See Disease
Characteristics At least 4 and no more than 6 prior platinum-based combination
chemotherapy courses (i.e., cisplatin or carboplatin) required Endocrine therapy: Not
specified Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: No prior
anthracyclines