Eflornithine to Prevent Cancer in Patients With Barrett's Esophagus

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Must have a columnar lined esophagus that meets the following criteria: Specialized intestinal metaplasia Nondysplastic or low grade dysplasia Extends a minimum of 1 cm above the gastroesophageal junction

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: Karnofsky 80-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC greater than 4,000/mm3 Platelet count greater than 120,000/mm3 Hemoglobin greater than 12 g/dL Prothrombin time less than 3 seconds beyond control Partial thromboplastin time less than 10 seconds beyond control Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL Transaminases less than 1.5 times normal Renal: Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL Urinalysis: less than 1+ protein, 0-3 urinary casts, 0-5 white blood cells and red blood cells Cardiovascular: No severe dyspnea at rest, orthopnea, edema, history of congestive heart failure requiring continued treatment, or unstable angina Neurologic: No severe degenerative neurologic disease Pulmonary: No requirement of supplemental oxygen for exertion or rest Other: No prior malignancy within 5 years No active rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or other rheumatologic autoimmune disease (no less than 2 years of quiescence if inactive) No history of abnormal wound healing No history of esophageal varices or variceal bleeding Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Adequate contraception required of all fertile patients

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: No regular, scheduled use of antiinflammatory medications, steroids, or anticoagulants No nutritional supplements other than two multivitamins per day or four single nutrient vitamin supplements per day