OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of high dose carboplatin with a fixed dose of high dose cyclophosphamide with amifostine pretreatment, and peripheral blood stem cell rescue in patients with ovarian epithelial cancer. II. Monitor engraftment kinetics such as granulocyte and platelet recovery. III. Determine the toxic effects of this regimen in this patient population. IV. Document the response of this patient population to this regimen in terms of time to progression, event free survival, and overall survival.