Sulindac in Preventing Melanoma in Healthy Participants Who Are at Increased Risk of Melanoma

Criteria:

Healthy participants at risk for developing melanoma and meeting the following criteria: must have >= 4 large (>= 5 mm and < 15 mm) atypical nevi and have 1 benign nevus amenable to biopsies
No histologically confirmed melanoma on the baseline biopsy
No more than 1 prior cutaneous melanoma
One prior stage I, IIA, or IIB melanoma allowed provided patients have been off treatment > 3 months
Modified dermoscopy score < 4.8
Karnofsky performance status 80-100%
ANC >= 1,500/mm^3
No family history of melanoma involving >= 2 first degree relatives
Platelets count >= 100,000/mm^3
Total bilirubin =< 2.0 mg/dL
AST/ALT =< 2.0 times upper limit of normal
Creatinine =< 1.5 mg/dL
Not pregnant or nursing
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
More than 6 months since prior and no concurrent tanning bed use or other methods to promote sun-tanning
Willing to minimize sunlight exposure by applying sunscreen/sunblock or wearing clothing to shield skin during outdoor activity during study participation
Willing or able to limit alcohol consumption to less than 3 servings a week during the study period
No frequent, chronic or moderate/severe gastrointestinal (GI) complaints
Upper GI problems requiring prescription or nonprescription medical remedies for symptoms of heartburn, dyspepsia, nausea, or abdominal pain > once a week on average
History of peptic ulcer, occult or gross intestinal bleeding
No prior allergic reaction to aspirin (unless subsequent dosing with other NSAIDs has been well tolerated)
No history of allergic reaction to lidocaine or xylocaine
No history of allergic reaction (e.g., urticaria, asthma, or rhinitis) or gastric intolerance attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to sulindac
No invasive cancer or cancer treatment within the past 5 years, except nonmelanoma skin cancer
No immunosuppression by medication or disease, including any of the following: AIDS, oral prednisone, immunosuppressant/immunomodulator (i.e., cyclosporine, chemotherapeutic agent, or biologic therapy)
No uncontrolled intercurrent illness
No ongoing or active infection
No symptomatic congestive heart failure
No unstable angina pectoris
No cardiac arrhythmia
No psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
At least 30 days since prior participation and no concurrent enrollment or planning to enroll in another clinical trial
No NSAIDs for more than 5 days per month within the past 3 months and no concurrent non-study NSAIDs, except low dose aspirin (81 mg/day)
Willing or able to refrain from herbal medicines, above-standard vitamins, or minerals during study
Standard daily multivitamin/mineral supplement (i.e., therapeutic doses of calcium and vitamin D for osteoporosis) allowed
No concurrent lithium, phenytoin, or sulfonamides
WBC >= 3,000/mm^3
No history of bleeding or clotting disorder
At least 3 months since prior and no concurrent coumadin or other systemic anticoagulant other than aspirin