closed by sponser

In this study, patients will be randomized to one of three dose regimen groups. Each dose of OvaRex MAb-B43.13 is 2 mg by slow intravenous administration.

Group 1 will receive two doses, one month apart.

Group 2 will receive three consecutive monthly doses, then at 12-week intervals through 2 years or until disease relapse up to a total of 9 doses.

Group 3 will receive six consecutive monthly doses, then at 12-week intervals through 2 years or until disease relapse up to a total of 11 doses.

The study will compare the time to disease relapse of patients who demonstrate an immune response to OvaRex MAb-B43.13 with time to disease relapse of those who do not demonstrate an immune response to OvaRex MAb-B43.13. Differences in the percentage of patients demonstrating an immune response in each dose regimen group will also be assessed.

Inclusion Criteria

• Histological diagnosis of epithelial adenocarcinoma of ovarian, tubal or peritoneal origin and disease is classified as FIGO Stage III or IV.
• Functional Performance Status < or = 2 by ECOG scale or > or = 60% on Karnofsky scale.
• Medical assessment consistent with prognosis for an expected survival of at least 6 months.
• Serum CA125 level >35 U/mL prior to or at initial surgery. Alternatively, serum CA125 level > or = 100 U/mL and immunohistochemical evidence of tumor tissue expressing CA125.
• Presence of residual disease that is either (a) visible to or palpable by the surgeon at the completion of the staging laparotomy procedure, or (b) microscopic disease remaining following the staging laparotomy procedure.
• Received chemotherapy that included cisplatin or carboplatin following appropriate staging procedure.
• Complete clinical response to primary treatment protocol, which included laparotomy followed by platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• First dose of study medication must be within 10 weeks of completing last dose of primary chemotherapy.
• Not more than one prior regimen of chemotherapy. A change of chemotherapy agents is permitted during the patient's primary therapy provided that the change is considered to be part of the initial chemotherapy treatment regimen.
• No whole abdomen, abdominopelvic or pelvic radiotherapy, surgery or chemotherapy within 4 weeks prior to first dose of study drug.
• No immunotherapy (interferons, tumor necrosis factor, other cytokines or biological response modifiers, or BCG vaccines) within the previous 6 weeks of first study dose. Patients who have received hemopoietic factors are acceptable.
• No previous treatment with murine monoclonal antibodies for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
• No compromised hematopoietic function defined as a hemoglobin <8.0 g/dL or lymphocyte count <300 mm3 or neutrophil count <1000 mm3 or platelet count <100,000 mm3.
• No hepatic dysfunction defined as a bilirubin >1.5 times the upper normal limits.
• No severe renal dysfunction defined as serum creatinine >1.6 mg/dL.
• While pregnancy is unlikely in view of the disease and previous surgery, patients who the investigator considers may be at risk of pregnancy will have a pregnancy [beta-HCG] test and will be using a medically approved contraceptive method. Patients who are breast-feeding are also excluded.
• No active autoimmune disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, ulcerative colitis, Chrohn?s Disease, MS, ankylosing spondylitis).
• No known allergy to murine proteins, or prior documented anaphylactic reaction to any drug.
• Not on chronic treatment with immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporin, ACTH, or corticosteroids.
• No active infection causing fever.
• No previous splenectomy.
• No recognized immunodeficiency disease including cellular immunodeficiencies, hypogammaglobulinemia or dysgammaglobulinemia; no acquired, hereditary, or congenital immunodeficiencies.
• No uncontrolled diseases or illness other than this cancer. Patients with chronic diseases that are well controlled (e.g., diabetes mellitus, hypertension) are eligible.
• No significant cardiovascular abnormalities (uncontrolled hypertension, CHF (NYHA Classes II-IV), uncontrolled angina, or uncontrolled arrhythmias).
• No concurrent illness or chronically taking medication that could confound the results of the study, preclude the patient from completing the study or mask an adverse reaction.
• No concurrent malignancy (except non-melanoma of the skin or in situ carcinoma of cervix), unless curative treatment was received and patient has been disease-free for > or = 5 years.
• No other investigational drugs within 30 days of enrollment.
• No contraindications present to the use of pressor agents.
• Inability to read or understand, and/or unwilling to sign a written consent form which must be obtained prior to treatment.
• Only tumors of low malignant potential or with noninvasive disease.
• Not more than one interval debulking procedure.