Evaluation of Safety and Immunogenicity of a Peptide Vaccine in Patients With Epithelial Ovarian or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

Study start date: June 1, 2004

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cancer * Completed primary therapy (surgery and chemotherapy for newly diagnosed disease) within the past 12 months and meets 1 of the following criteria: * Clinical or radiographic evidence of disease * Serologic evidence of disease * Initial diagnosis of stage III or IV disease AND completed anticancer therapy within the past 12 months * At least 2 intact axillary and/or inguinal lymph node basins * Prior lymph node biopsy allowed provided lymphoscintigraphy demonstrates intact drainage to a node in that basin * HLA-A1-, -A2-, or -A3-positive PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * GOG 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,500/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin \> 8.0 g/dL OR * Hematocrit \> 25% * Platelet count ≥ 80,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal * Hepatitis C negative Renal * Not specified Cardiovascular * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Immunologic * HIV negative * No active infection requiring antibiotics * No prior or active autoimmune disorder requiring cytotoxic or immunosuppressive therapy * No prior autoimmune disorder with visceral involvement * No known or suspected allergy to any component of the study vaccine * The following immunologic conditions are allowed: * Laboratory evidence of autoimmune disease (e.g., positive antinuclear antibody titer) that is asymptomatic * Clinical evidence of vitiligo or other forms of depigmenting illness * Mild arthritis requiring non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Weight ≥ 110 lbs * No uncontrolled diabetes, defined as hemoglobin A1C ≥ 7% * No active hyperthyroidism * No current or recent (within the past year) addiction to alcohol or drugs * No medical contraindication or other potential medical problem that would preclude study compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * More than 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent allergy desensitization injections * More than 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent growth factors (e.g., epoetin alfa or pegfilgrastim) * More than 1 month since prior and no other concurrent immunotherapy * More than 2 weeks since prior and no other concurrent potential immunomodulating agents, including any of the following: * Interferon * Tumor necrosis factor * Interleukins or other cytokines * Biologic response modifiers * Monoclonal antibodies * No prior vaccination with all of the study peptides relevant to the patient's HLA-type Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * More than 1 month since prior chemotherapy and recovered * No concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * More than 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent parenteral or oral corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone or albuterol) * Topical corticosteroids allowed Radiotherapy * More than 1 month since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery * See Disease Characteristics * More than 1 month since prior surgery and recovered Other * More than 1 month since other prior treatment and recovered * More than 1 month since prior and no other concurrent investigational agents