Lysophosphatidic Acid Assay in Patients With Ovarian Cancer or Who Are at Risk for Ovarian Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Meets 1 of the following criteria:

  * Presenting to a gynecological oncologist with a unilateral or bilateral pelvic mass (defined as a simple, complex, or a solid ovarian/pelvic mass) and scheduled to undergo surgery
  * Newly diagnosed epithelial ovarian cancer and undergoing first-line chemotherapy
  * History of epithelial ovarian carcinoma status post-primary chemotherapy treatment, currently in clinical remission according to the following criteria:

    * Absence of symptoms that may be related to disease
    * Imaging without abnormalities ≥ 1 cm suspicious for disease (no ascites)
    * CA125 obtained twice at least 3 weeks apart and not increasing by 50% and \< 40 units/mL
  * Known BRCA mutations and intact ovaries (no prior bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy)
* No synchronous primary endometrial cancer or a past history of primary endometrial cancer, unless all of the following conditions are met:

  * Stage not greater than IB
  * No more than superficial myometrial invasion, without vascular or lymphatic invasion
  * No poorly differentiated subtypes, including papillary serous, clear cell, or other FIGO grade 3 lesions
* No epithelial ovarian carcinoma of low malignant potential (borderline carcinomas)
* Patients of any stage who have recurred and are in second chemotherapy induced remission are not eligible

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Pre- or post-menopausal
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No other invasive malignancies within the past 5 years, with the exception of nonmelanoma skin cancer
* No septicemia, severe infection, or acute hepatitis

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior radiotherapy to any portion of the abdominal cavity or pelvis
* No prior chemotherapy for another malignancy

Inclusion Criteria:

* Eligible Patients
* Patients age ≥ 21 years
* Patients with a diagnosis of a pelvic mass (defined as a simple, complex or a solid ovarian / pelvic mass) who are scheduled to undergo surgery.
* Patients with a new diagnosis of epithelial ovarian carcinoma undergoing primary chemotherapy treatment.
* Patients with a history of epithelial ovarian carcinoma status post primary chemotherapy treatment, currently in clinical remission.
* Patients with a known BRCA mutation and who have NOT undergone a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
* Clinical remission should require all of following:
* Absence of symptoms that may be related to disease;
* Imaging without abnormalities greater then or equal to 1 cm suspicious for disease (no ascites);
* CA 125 obtained x 2 at least 3 weeks apart and not increasing by 50% and \< 40 units/mL.
* Patients must have signed an approved informed consent and authorization permitting release of personal health information.
* Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test. They as well as their partners must be willing to consent to using effective contraception while on treatment and for a reasonable period thereafter.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Ineligible Patients
* Patients with a history of other invasive malignancies, with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer, are excluded if there is any evidence of other malignancy being present within the last five years. Patients with synchronous primary endometrial cancer or a past history of primary endometrial cancer are excluded, unless all of the following conditions are met: Stage not greater than I-B; no more than superficial myometrial invasion, without vascular or lymphatic invasion; no poorly differentiated subtypes, including papillary serous, clear cell or other FIGO Grade 3 lesions.
* Patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma of low malignant potential (Borderline carcinomas).
* Patients who have received prior radiotherapy to any portion of the abdominal cavity or pelvis or have received chemotherapy for another malignancy.
* Patients of any stage who have recurred and are in second chemotherapy induced remission.
* Patients with septicemia, severe infection, or acute hepatitis.
* Patients who are pregnant or lactating.