Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Ovarian Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed stage III or IV epithelial or germ cell ovarian cancer that is unlikely to respond to existing therapy and for which no curative therapy exists Measurable disease by CT scan or MRI PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: At least 2 months Hematopoietic: WBC at least 2,000/mm^3 Platelet count at least 50,000/mm^3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL SGOT/SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal No hepatic failure Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/mL No renal insufficiency No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium Cardiovascular: No uncontrolled hypertension No history of congestive heart failure No other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium Pulmonary: No serious lung disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception for 4 weeks before, during, and for 4 weeks after study participation No active infection No concurrent serious systemic disease PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered No concurrent immunomodulating agents Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered Endocrine therapy: Concurrent corticosteroids allowed (e.g., dexamethasone or methylprednisone) Radiotherapy: At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: Recovered from prior surgery Other: Prior cytodifferentiating agents allowed No prior antineoplaston therapy No other concurrent antineoplastic agents