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

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