Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV Ovarian Epithelial, Fallopian Tube, or Peritoneal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer

  • Stage II-IV disease at diagnosis

• Tumor expression of 1 of the following:

  • NY-ESO-1 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis OR immunohistochemistry
  • LAGE-1 by RT-PCR

• Demonstrated complete response to prior first-line initial surgery and chemotherapy, as evidenced by negative clinical examination, CA 125 tumor marker, and CT scan

  • No evidence of microscopic or macroscopic disease by second look surgery (if performed)
• Received ≥ 1 platinum-based chemotherapy regimen within the past 6 months
• No CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy

• At least 6 months

Hematopoietic

• Neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Lymphocyte count ≥ 500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• No bleeding disorder

Hepatic

• Bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 2 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

• No myocardial infarction
• No angina
• No congestive heart failure
• No cardiomyopathy
• No stroke or transient ischemic attack
• No chest pain or shortness of breath with activity
• No other heart condition being treated by a doctor

• No presence of ≥ 3 of the following cardiac risk factors:

  • Hypertension
  • Hypercholesterolemia
  • Diabetes
  • Has a first-degree relative (e.g., mother, father, brother, or sister) who had a heart condition at < 50 years of age
  • Current cigarette smoker

Immunologic

• No known allergy or severe reaction to a vaccinia (small pox) vaccination
• No known history of allergy to eggs
• No known HIV positivity
• No history of autoimmune disease (e.g., thyroiditis or lupus)
• No prior or current eczema or atopic dermatitis

• None of the following acute, chronic, or exfoliative skin conditions:

  • Burns
  • Chicken pox
  • Shingles
  • Impetigo
  • Herpes
  • Severe acne
  • Psoriasis
• No serious infection requiring antibiotics

Other

• No other serious illness
• No mental impairment that would preclude giving informed consent or study compliance

• Able to avoid close contact with any of the following individuals while receiving the study therapy:

  • Children < 3 years of age
  • Pregnant or nursing women
  • Individuals with prior or active eczema or atopic dermatitis

  • Individuals with other prior or active skin disorders, including any of the following:

    • Burns
    • Chicken pox
    • Shingles
    • Impetigo
    • Herpes
    • Severe acne
    • Psoriasis

  • Immunocompromised individuals, including those with any of the following conditions:

    • HIV
    • Leukemia
    • Lymphoma
    • Solid organ transplantation
    • Generalized malignancy
    • Cellular or humoral immunodeficiency syndromes
    • Currently receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or high-dose corticosteroids

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)
• No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• No concurrent systemic corticosteroids
• Concurrent hormonal therapy for breast cancer allowed
• Concurrent tamoxifen therapy for ovarian cancer allowed

Radiotherapy

• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior surgery

Other

• More than 4 weeks since prior participation in a clinical trial involving another investigational agent
• No concurrent systemic antihistamines
• No concurrent systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• No other concurrent immunosuppressive agents
• Concurrent noncytotoxic anticancer therapy allowed