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

You may be eligible if

• 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