Inclusion Criteria

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