Fenretinide Followed by Surgery Compared With Surgery Alone in Preventing Ovarian Cancer in Patients at Increased Risk

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Increased risk for ovarian cancer secondary to 1 of the following:

Evidence of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation
Family history of 1 or more first-degree relatives diagnosed with ovarian cancer prior to 50 years of age
Family history of 1 first-degree relative with ovarian cancer (any age) AND 1 or more first- or second-degree relatives diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer
Personal history of breast cancer (at any age) AND 1 or more first- or second-degree relative diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer at any age

Meets any 1 of the following criteria:

Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity with 1 first-degree or 2 second-degree relatives with breast* and/or ovarian cancer
Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity with diagnosed breast* cancer in patient
Greater than 20% probability of carrying BRCA1/2 mutation with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer NOTE: * Where breast cancer is required to meet this criteria, diagnosis must occur prior to menopause or at ≤ 50 years old if age at menopause is unknown
Planned prophylactic oophorectomy
Normal pelvic exam within the past 6 weeks

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

GOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

At least 12 months

Hematopoietic:

WBC at least 4,000/mm^3
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
SGOT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
Triglyceride less than 2 times ULN (fasting)

Cardiovascular:

No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months
No active angina
No unstable heart rhythms
No clinically evident congestive heart failure

Other:

No uncontrolled medical illness that would preclude study participation
No uncontrolled diabetes
No uncontrolled psychiatric illness
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

Not specified

Chemotherapy:

At least 3 months since prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

At least 3 months since prior hormonal therapy
At least 8 weeks since prior hormone replacement therapy
At least 8 weeks since prior oral, injectable, or implantable contraceptives
No concurrent hormonal therapy, including hormone replacement therapy

Radiotherapy:

At least 3 months since prior radiotherapy
No prior radiotherapy to pelvis for malignancy

Surgery:

See Disease Characteristics

Other:

At least 3 months since prior investigational treatment
No concurrent nutritional supplements except a daily multivitamin with less than 25,000 IU of vitamin A
No prior non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on a regular (chronic or daily) basis within the past 6 months
No concurrent NSAIDs on a regular (chronic or daily) basis
Concurrent aspirin at a dose of 81 mg/day allowed