Acitretin in Preventing Skin Cancers in Patients With Previously Treated Skin Cancers Who Have Undergone Organ Transplantation

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Solid organ recipient (kidney, liver, heart, lung, or pancreas) receiving immunosuppressive agents (e.g., prednisone, other corticosteroid, azathioprine, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil)
* At least 6 months since transplant
* At least 2 prior (same event or separate events) basal cell carcinomas (BCC) or squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) resected

  * All visible BCC and SCC resected

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Life expectancy:

* Greater than 2 years

Hematopoietic:

* WBC at least 3400/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin at least 10.0 g/dL

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN
* SGOT no greater than 3 times ULN

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Fertile patients must use two effective forms of birth control for at least 1 month before, during, and at least 3 years after study
* No history of oral retinoid intolerance
* No significant, uncontrolled hyperlipidemia
* No other significant medical condition or threatened allograft rejection state where retinoid use would be contraindicated

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Other:

* At least 1 year since prior retinoids
* No concurrent oral vitamin A supplements, topical retinoids, or other potentially irritating skin preparations
* No alcohol during and for 2 months after study