DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed ovarian carcinoma Must be scheduled for surgical evaluation

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: Greater than 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 No coagulation disorders Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL AST and ALT less than 2.5 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: LVEF greater than 50% No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease No abnormalities on ECG that would preclude study Pulmonary: FEV1 and FVC greater than 70% predicted No severe debilitating pulmonary disease Other: No concurrent active infection requiring antibiotic therapy No concurrent medical problem that would preclude study No prior autoimmune hepatitis or autoimmune disease No psychiatric, addictive, or other disorder that would preclude consent

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered Endocrine therapy: Recovered from prior endocrine therapy Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: No concurrent immunosuppressive therapy during the first 30 days after treatment