Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- At increased genetic risk for ovarian cancer AND planning to undergo risk-reducing
salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO)

- Has ≥ 1 intact ovary

- Patients enrolled on clinical trial GOG-0199 and planning to undergo RRSO allowed

- Submission of fixed ovarian tissue (FN01) required

- Must meet 1 of the following additional criteria:

- Family of the patient has a documented deleterious BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation and
either the patient herself has tested positive for a deleterious BRCA1 or BRCA2
mutation or the patient has a first- or second-degree relative with a
deleterious BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation

- No patient with a deleterious BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation whose first- or
second-degree relative has tested negative for the exact same mutation

- The family contains members with ≥ 2 ovarian* and/or breast cancers among the
first- or second-degree relatives (male relatives must be counted) of the
patient within the same lineage (this condition may be satisfied by multiple
primary cancers in the same person or, where breast cancer is required to meet
this criterion, ≥ 1 breast cancer must have been diagnosed prior to menopause or
at age ≤ 50 years if age at menopause is unknown)

- The patient is of Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity (lineage via the mother) with one
first- degree or two second-degree maternal relatives with breast and/or ovarian
cancer* (where breast cancer is required to meet this criterion, ≥ 1 breast
cancer must have been diagnosed prior to menopause or at age ≤ 50 years if age
at menopause is unknown)

- The probability of carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, given the family pedigree
of breast and ovarian cancers, exceeds 20%, as calculated by BRCAPRO NOTE:
*Ovarian cancer in relatives includes invasive ovarian epithelial cancer,
fallopian tube cancer, and primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum;
no germ cell tumors, granulosa cell tumors, or ovarian tumors of low malignant
potential

- No prior history of ovarian cancer, including low malignant potential cancers, or
primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum

- No prior or concurrent history of breast cancer, including ductal carcinoma in situ
(DCIS) of the breast

- Women with a history of hormone receptor-negative breast cancer (both estrogen
receptor-negative and progesterone receptor-negative) are eligible

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective nonhormonal contraception prior to the
prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy

- No prior history of deep vein thrombosis, stroke, liver disease, or heart attack

- No prior history of myocardial infarction

- No known bleeding disorders or hypercoagulable states

- No other malignancy, including ductal carcinoma in situ, within 1 year of systemic
therapy, except for nonmelanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- No prior chemotherapy regimen lasting ≥ 12 months

- No oral or intrauterine hormonal contraception or hormonal replacement therapy within
the past 3 months or injectable medroxyprogesterone within the past 12 months

- No intraperitoneal surgery within the past 3 months (including laparoscopy)

- No prior or concurrent radiotherapy to the pelvis

- No concurrent hormonal contraception

- No concurrent tamoxifen, raloxifene, estrogen, progesterone-like hormones, or other
hormonal medication (including hormone replacement therapy)