Exisulind in Preventing Polyps in Patients With Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• One of the following diagnosis:
• * Diagnosis of familial adenomatous polyposis
• * Prior total or subtotal colectomy
• * Attenuated adenomatous polyposis coli
• * May have colon intact
• 10-40 duodenal polyps from second portion to 10 cm distal to papilla of Vater
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 to 80
• Performance status:
• Not specified
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• No active hematologic disease
• Hepatic:
• AST and ALT less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase less than 1.5 times ULN
• No active hepatic disease
• Renal:
• Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL
• No active renal disease
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No active peptic ulcer disease
• No serious underlying medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude completion of the study or limit survival
• No prisoners or institutionalized patients
• No known allergy to sulindac or related compounds
• No active internal malignancy within the past 5 years
• No alcohol or drug abuse within the past 5 years
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• Not specified
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• Not specified
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Other:
• No prior non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or salicylates more than 10 days a month for the past 3 months
• No concurrent NSAIDs (e.g., mesalamine, olsalazine, azodisalicylate, salsalate, sulfasalazine)
• Aspirin for cardiac reasons allowed (81 mg/day or 325 mg twice/week)