DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed primary ovarian epithelial cancer Stage III disease, i.e.: Greater than 1 cm residual intraperitoneal disease following exploratory laparotomy with maximum debulking Laparoscopic resection alone insufficient The following histologies are eligible: Serous adenocarcinoma Transitional cell carcinoma Mucinous adenocarcinoma Undifferentiated carcinoma Clear cell adenocarcinoma Mixed epithelial carcinoma Adenocarcinoma Endometrioid tumor Adenocarcinoma NOS Malignant Brenner's tumor No unclassified ovarian cancer (i.e., unexplored tumors thought to be of ovarian origin or tumors not verified as arising from ovarian stroma) No borderline (grade 0) or "probably malignant" carcinoma Measurable disease preferred Patients eligible for this protocol are also eligible for protocol GOG-136