Fenretinide in Preventing Ovarian Cancer in Participants Who Are at High Risk for Developing Ovarian Cancer and Planning to Undergo Surgery to Remove the Ovaries

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

At high risk for developing ovarian cancer, meeting 1 of the following criteria:

Family history of ovarian cancer, defined as ≥ 1 first-degree relative diagnosed with ovarian cancer before 50 years of age
Family history of ovarian cancer, defined as ≥ 1 first-degree relative diagnosed with ovarian cancer at any age AND ≥ 1 first- or second-degree relative diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer at any age
Positive BRCA1/BRCA2 test
Planning to undergo prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

30 and over

Performance status

Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy

At least 12 months

Hematopoietic

Not specified

Hepatic

Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
SGOT ≤ 1.5 times ULN
Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 1.5 times ULN
No history of liver disease*
No cholestatic jaundice
No hepatic adenomas NOTE: *For patients undergoing contrast enhanced ultrasound

Renal

BUN normal
Creatinine normal

Cardiovascular

No history of a congenital heart defect creating a bi-directional or right-to-left shunt*
No history of congestive heart failure*
No thrombophlebitis
No thromboembolic disease
No cerebral vascular disease
No coronary artery disease NOTE: *For patients undergoing contrast enhanced ultrasound

Pulmonary

No history of pulmonary hypertension*
No history of pulmonary emboli*
No history of severe emphysema* NOTE: *For patients undergoing contrast enhanced ultrasound

Other

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception
Thyroid stimulating hormone normal
T4 normal
Triglycerides ≤ 1.5 times ULN

No malignancy within the past 5 years except breast cancer or basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer

No evidence of recurrent disease
No known or suspected hypersensitivity to blood, blood products, or albumin
No undiagnosed genital bleeding
No history of pancreatitis
No uncontrolled diabetes
No other severe underlying chronic disease
No concurrent alcohol use (> 3 drinks/day or equivalent)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

Not specified

Chemotherapy

At least 3 months since prior chemotherapy for breast cancer

Endocrine therapy

No concurrent selective estrogen-receptor modulators, including raloxifene
No concurrent aromatase inhibitors

Radiotherapy

Not specified

Surgery

See Disease Characteristics

Other

More than 3 months since prior therapeutic oral or topical vitamin A derivatives (e.g., isotretinoin)
No other concurrent investigational agents
No concurrent cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors
No concurrent oral vitamin A or ascorbic acid (vitamin C) supplements > recommended daily requirement (10,000 IU for vitamin A and 75 mg for vitamin C)