DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed stage III or IV ovarian epithelial carcinoma including the following cellular diagnoses: Serous adenocarcinoma Mucinous adenocarcinoma Endometrioid adenocarcinoma Clear cell adenocarcinoma Undifferentiated carcinoma Mixed epithelial carcinoma Transitional cell carcinoma Malignant Brenner's Tumor Stage III (optimal or suboptimal) must be surgically reassessed OR Stage III (suboptimal) or stage IV clinically reassessed after induction chemotherapy For stage III surgical reassessment: No more than 12 weeks between end of chemotherapy and reassessment surgery AND No more than 6 weeks between reassessment surgery and randomization Patients treated on protocol GOG-158 are eligible At least a partial response to chemotherapy as defined as: Microscopic disease documented at reassessment surgery for patients optimally debulked (disease no greater than 1 cm) after primary surgery Suboptimally debulked disease (greater than 1 cm) after primary surgery and 1 of the following: Negative reassessment laparotomy Only microscopic disease at reassessment surgery Gross residual disease no greater than 1 cm at reassessment surgery prior to debulking Clinical complete response to induction chemotherapy including: - suboptimal disease Stage III or IV AND - either an abnormal CT or elevated CA-125 prior to induction chemotherapy and both are within normal limits following induction chemotherapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Under 66 Performance status: GOG 0 or 1 Hematopoietic: Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL AST no greater than 3 times normal Renal: Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: Left ventricular ejection fraction at least 45% by MUGA No congestive heart failure Pulmonary: FEV1 and FVC at least 60% Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No prior malignancy in the past 5 years except adequately treated nonmelanomatous skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or any other cancer whose prior treatment does not contraindicate this study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 and no more than 6 prior platinum-based combination chemotherapy courses (i.e., cisplatin or carboplatin) required Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: No prior anthracyclines