DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Healthy participants at risk for developing melanoma and meeting the following criteria:

  • Must have ≥ 4 large (≥ 5 mm and < 15 mm) atypical nevi
  • Must have 1 benign nevus amenable to biopsies
• No histologically confirmed melanoma on the baseline biopsy

• No more than 1 prior cutaneous melanoma

  • One prior stage I, IIA, or IIB melanoma allowed provided patients have been off treatment > 3 months
• No family history of melanoma involving ≥ 2 first degree relatives
• Modified dermoscopy score < 4.8

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Karnofsky performance status 80-100%
• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm³
• ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Platelets count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Total bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
• AST/ALT ≤ 2.0 times upper limit of normal
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• More than 6 months since prior and no concurrent tanning bed use or other methods to promote sun-tanning
• Willing to minimize sunlight exposure by applying sunscreen/sunblock or wearing clothing to shield skin during outdoor activity during study participation
• Willing or able to limit alcohol consumption to less than 3 servings a week during the study period

• No frequent, chronic or moderate/severe gastrointestinal (GI) complaints including, but not limited to, any of the following:

  • Upper GI problems requiring prescription or nonprescription medical remedies for symptoms of heartburn, dyspepsia, nausea, or abdominal pain > once a week on average
  • History of peptic ulcer, occult or gross intestinal bleeding
• No prior allergic reaction to aspirin (unless subsequent dosing with other NSAIDs has been well tolerated)
• No history of allergic reaction to lidocaine or xylocaine
• No history of allergic reaction (e.g., urticaria, asthma, or rhinitis) or gastric intolerance attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to sulindac
• No history of bleeding or clotting disorder
• No invasive cancer or cancer treatment within the past 5 years, except nonmelanoma skin cancer

• No immunosuppression by medication or disease, including any of the following:

  • AIDS
  • Oral prednisone
  • Immunosuppressant/immunomodulator (i.e., cyclosporine, chemotherapeutic agent, or biologic therapy)

• No uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:

  • Ongoing or active infection
  • Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  • Unstable angina pectoris
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• At least 3 months since prior and no concurrent coumadin or other systemic anticoagulant other than aspirin
• At least 30 days since prior participation and no concurrent enrollment or planning to enroll in another clinical trial
• No NSAIDs for more than 5 days per month within the past 3 months and no concurrent non-study NSAIDs, except low dose aspirin (81 mg/day)

• Willing or able to refrain from herbal medicines, above-standard vitamins, or minerals during study

  • Standard daily multivitamin/mineral supplement (i.e., therapeutic doses of calcium and vitamin D for osteoporosis) allowed
• No concurrent lithium, phenytoin, or sulfonamides