OBJECTIVES: * Determine the feasibility of a randomized trial to determine the impact of the timing of surgery and chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian epithelial, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, pilot, multicenter study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I (primary surgery): Patients undergo radical surgery. Within 6 weeks after primary surgery, patients receive chemotherapy comprising carboplatin alone or in combination with paclitaxel or another chemotherapy agent on day 1. Chemotherapy repeats every 3 weeks for up to 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients may undergo interval debulking surgery after the third course of chemotherapy. * Arm II (neoadjuvant chemotherapy): Patients receive chemotherapy as in arm I for 3 courses. Within 3 weeks after chemotherapy, patients undergo radical surgery. Within 6 weeks after surgery, patients receive an additional 3 courses of chemotherapy as in arm I. Patients are followed at 9 months after randomization, every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 3 years, and then annually thereafter. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 100-150 patients will be accrued for this study within 18 months.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Newly diagnosed advanced ovarian epithelial, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer * Clinical and imaging evidence of a pelvic mass with extrapelvic metastases within the past 4 weeks * Serum CA 125/CEA ratio \> 25 * Plans to receive carboplatin-based chemotherapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * Adult Performance status * Not specified Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Not specified Hepatic * Not specified Renal * Not specified Other * Considered fit to undergo protocol treatment and follow-up * No other prior or concurrent malignancy that would preclude study treatment or comparisons PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * Not specified Surgery * Not specified