DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• At high risk for ovarian cancer and meets criteria for 1 of the following:

  • Family history of at least 2 ovarian** or breast cancers* among the patient and first- or second-degree relatives in the same lineage

    • Multiple primary cancers in the same person may fulfill this requirement
  • Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity AND 1 first-degree or 2 second-degree relatives with breast* or ovarian** cancer
  • Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity AND had prior breast cancer*
  • BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation probability > 20% by BRCAPRO
  • Positive for BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation
  • First- or second-degree relative with a BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation NOTE: *At least 1 breast cancer must be premenopausal (diagnosed at age 50 or under if menopausal status unknown); ductal carcinoma in situ qualifies as breast cancer

NOTE: **In relatives, only ovarian epithelial cancer, fallopian tube cancer, and primary papillary serous cancer qualifies as ovarian cancer

• No prior or concurrent ovarian cancer, including low malignant potential cancers or primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum

  • No clinical evidence of ovarian cancer by physical examination, CA 125 evaluation, and pelvic ultrasound

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 19 and over

Performance status

• GOG 0-1

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• WBC > 3,000/mm^3
• Granulocyte count > 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3
• No hemophilia or other bleeding disorder
• No serious anemia

Hepatic

• Transaminases normal
• Bilirubin normal

Renal

• Creatinine clearance > 80 mL/min OR
• Creatinine < 2.0 mg/dL

Pulmonary

• No emphysema

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• No psychiatric or psychological condition that would preclude giving informed consent
• No concurrent untreated malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No other medical condition that would preclude blood draws (e.g., chronic infectious disease)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• More than 3 months since prior adjuvant chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• Concurrent adjuvant hormonal therapy (e.g., tamoxifen, leuprolide, or goserelin) allowed

Radiotherapy

• More than 3 months since prior adjuvant radiotherapy

Surgery

• More than 3 months since prior intraperitoneal surgery (laparoscopy or laparotomy)
• No prior oophorectomy

Other

• More than 5 years since prior treatment (excluding hormonal therapy) for metastatic malignancy
• No concurrent participation in other ovarian cancer early detection clinical trials