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

Performance status:

• Not specified

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:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• Not specified

Endocrine therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics

Radiotherapy:

• Not specified

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics

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