OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the toxicity and potential efficacy of high dose chemotherapy (HDC) comprised of etoposide, topotecan, and carboplatin (ETC) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with ovarian epithelial cancer. II. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of topotecan when combined with etoposide and carboplatin in these patients. III. Determine the disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients treated with this regimen. IV. Measure the amount and subcellular location of DNA topoisomerase I and II- alpha in ovarian cancer biopsies before HDC and at relapse to determine the role of alterations of topoisomerases in the drug resistance of ovarian cancer. V. Correlate the amount and location of both enzymes before HDC with clinical outcome (DFS and OS) and plasma concentrations of topotecan and carboplatin in these patients. VI. Correlate the levels of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) and expression of bcl-2 family proteins with response to chemotherapy and clinical outcome (DFS and OS) in these patients. VII. Measure the levels of STAT and determine the expression of bcl-2 family proteins in tumor biopsies before HDC and at relapse to determine the role of these cellular pathways in drug response. VIII. Determine the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationship of high dose topotecan combined with carboplatin in these patients.