Chemoimmunotherapy Study for Patients With Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Carboplatin is a chemotherapy drug that is used for the treatment of ovarian cancer. GM-CSF is a protein that is used to increase the production of white blood cells. rIFN-g is a protein that stimulates cells of the immune system.

Participants will need to have pre-study blood work (about 4 teaspoons) as part of their evaluation for study entry. In addition, a chest x-ray and CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis will need to be done before any treatments.

Participants in this study will receive a frequently used dose of carboplatin by vein over 1 hour every 28 days. In addition, GM-CSF will be given for 7 days and rIFN-g will be given for 2 days before and after chemotherapy. Both drugs will be given as injections under the skin. They will be repeated with each chemotherapy course that participants receive.

GM-CSF and rIFN-g are being used to try to stimulate the immune system in the belief that this adds to the effectiveness of the chemotherapy on the tumor. During each course of chemotherapy treatment, blood samples will be taken in order to evaluate the blood count response to GM-CSF. Participants will need to remain in the Houston area beginning with the first injection of GM-CSF and for up to 9 days following the carboplatin infusion for the first course.

QOL forms will be completed at 5 separate time points during the first course of chemotherapy. Later courses will only have 2 time points for completion of the QOL forms. The completion of these forms will help researchers to evaluate the effects of the carboplatin and the 2 proteins on participants and their quality of life.

Participants will receive 3 courses of treatment (each course will include 1 treatment with carboplatin followed by 2 separate treatment cycles with GM-CSF and rIFN-g) and then be evaluated for tumor response. If the tumor is responding, 3 additional courses will be given. If after 6 courses of treatment, the tumor has completely responded and there is no evidence of the disease, then up to 4 additional courses can be given for completion of therapy. If the tumor is still responding after 6 courses but has not completely gone away, then additional courses can be given as long as the tumor is responding before completion therapy can be considered.

Completion therapy will include carboplatin given every 28 days by vein along with injections of GM-CSF under the skin before and after the chemotherapy. Injections of rIFN-g will be given directly into the abdomen through an abdominal catheter if possible. If this is not possible, then the rIFN-g will be given as injections under the skin. Participants may choose not to receive the rIFN-g through a catheter during the completion phase and can continue to receive it under the skin with the chemotherapy. A maximum of 4 additional courses can be given during this phase of the study.

Participants whose disease gets worse will be taken off the study. Participants who have intolerable side effect from the study drugs will also be taken off the study treatment. Participants will have follow up CT scans after every 3 courses of treatment. Following completion of all treatments, participants will need to return to M. D. Anderson every 3 months for follow-up exams. This will include a physical exam, blood work, and a CT scan.

This is an investigational study. A total of 65 patients will take part in this study.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with Müllerian carcinomas (primary epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube) who have had a response to platinum-based chemotherapy and have a chemotherapy treatment-free interval of at least 6 months. These patients are designated potentially platinum-sensitive.
• Measurable disease by radiological or clinical examination parameters.
• No prior immunotherapy.
• No concurrent steroids or radiation therapy.
• Adequate hematological parameters (ANC >/= 1500 cells/UL, platelets >/= 100,000 cells/UL
• Adequate renal function (serum creatinine </= 1.5 mg/dl)
• Adequate hepatic function (serum bilirubin </= 1.5 mg/dl)
• SGOT or SGPT </= 2.5 normal
• Zubrod status </= 2
• Signed informed consent
• Patients with no more than 2 prior therapy regimens (1st line platinum and platinum reinduction will count as one)

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or lactating women
• Patients with brain metastases
• Serum albumin <3 gm/dl
• Weight loss >10% over 4 months
• Radiation therapy to whole abdomen
• History of clinical or EKG findings suggestive of active (within the last 6 months) heart disease
• Patients with active autoimmune or inflammatory bowel disease
• Patients with an active serious infection or other serious underlying medical condition that would otherwise impair their ability to receive protocol treatment.
• Dementia or significantly altered mental status that would prohibit the understanding and/or giving of informed consent.
• Patients with prior hypersensitivity to platinum agents
• Patients with history of other malignancy, with the exception of non-melanomatous skin cancer; unless in complete remission and off therapy for a minimum of 5 years.