OBJECTIVES:
* Evaluate the ability of the microculture kinetic (MiCK) assay to predict the outcome of patients with ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal adenocarcinoma treated with first-line chemotherapy.
* Evaluate the ability of the MiCK assay to guide chemotherapy in a third-line, refractory treatment setting (exclusive of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor) in these patients.
OUTLINE: Patients are stratified according to prior chemotherapy (no \[stratum I\] vs yes \[stratum II\]).
Tumor tissue and/or effusion specimens are collected at baseline. Specimens are examined by the microculture kinetic (MiCK) assay and immunocytochemical or flow cytometry assay.
MiCK assay results do not influence treatment for stratum I patients. Stratum II patients may receive treatment based on MiCK assay results for tumor sensitivity to specific chemotherapy drugs.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 60 patients will be accrued for this study.