• Validation of the observation that a gain in chromosome 8q is predictive of shorter progression-free survival in patients with primary grade 2 or grade 3 advanced serous papillary ovarian cancer by microarray and Taqman analyses [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Determination of whether a gain in chromosome 8q is predictive of worse overall survival in these patients [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Determination of whether other previously identified chromosomal changes (3q gain, 7q gain, 16q loss, and 17pter-q21 loss) predict outcome [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Association between above chromosomal changes and clinical characteristics [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Identification of up to 5 additional chromosomal changes and their association that may predict outcome (progression-free and overall survival) [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

RATIONALE: Analyzing tissue samples from patients in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about cancer.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze tissue samples from patients with ovarian cancer in the laboratory.

OBJECTIVES:

• Utilize array comparative genomic hybridization and Taqman analyses, a quantitative genomic polymerase chain reaction, to validate the observation that a gain in chromosome 8q is predictive of shorter progression-free survival in patients with primary grade 2 or grade 3 advanced serous papillary ovarian cancer.
• Utilize these analyses to determine whether a gain in chromosome 8q is predictive of worse overall survival in these patients.
• Utilize these analyses to determine whether other previously identified chromosomal changes (3q gain, 7q gain, 16q loss, and 17pter-q21 loss) predict outcome in these patients and the association between these changes and clinical characteristics.
• Utilize these analyses to identify up to 5 additional chromosomal changes and their association that may predict outcome (progression-free and overall survival) in these patients.

OUTLINE: Genomic DNA is isolated from OCT-embedded tissue and analyzed using comparative genomic hybridization. The chromosomal changes identified by this method are compared to those identified using the Taqman method, a quantitative genomic polymerase chain reaction analysis. Chromosome 8q is of specific interest. Other chromosomal changes may be detected in chromosomes 3q, 7q, 16q, and/or 17pter-q21.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 158 patient samples will be collected for this study.

• Genetic: comparative genomic hybridization
• Genetic: cytogenetic analysis
• Genetic: gene rearrangement analysis
• Genetic: microarray analysis
• Genetic: mutation analysis
• Genetic: polymerase chain reaction

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Stage III or IV, high-grade (grade 2 or 3) ovarian cancers

  • No borderline or low-grade (grade 1) tumors

  • Tissue from predominately serous ovarian cancer only

    • No clear cell, endometrioid, mucinous, transitional cell, or mixed without predominant serous component
• Tissue obtained during prior optimal or suboptimal cytoreductive surgery
• Must be enrolled on GOG-0136 and a GOG front-line paclitaxel/platinum chemotherapy trial
• Frozen tissue and hematoxylin-eosin stained section from the ovary obtained at initial surgery

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• Any age

Performance status

• GOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Not specified

Hepatic

• Not specified

Renal

• Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• Not specified

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics