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