Prostaglandin Metabolite in Urine Samples From Patients With Ovarian Cancer

OBJECTIVES: * Determine the level of prostaglandin E\_2 metabolite (PGE-M) in 24-hour urine samples collected prior to surgery or chemotherapy from patients with ovarian cancer. * Determine cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression by western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in ovarian tumor tissue samples and matched normal ovarian tissue samples, if available, from these patients. * Correlate urine PGE-M levels with corresponding tissue COX-1 and COX-2 levels in urine and tissue samples from these patients. OUTLINE: This is a pilot study. Patients submit 24-hour urine specimens prior to surgery for evaluation of urinary levels of prostaglandin E\_2 metabolite (PGE-M). Patients also undergo assessment of tissue obtained at the time of surgery, including ovarian tumor tissue, normal surface ovarian epithelium tissue (if available), and fixed tissue embedded in a paraffin block. Tissue samples are analyzed by western blot and IHC for cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 expression.