Closed due to poor accrual.

RATIONALE: Chemoprevention therapy is the use of certain drugs to try to prevent the development or recurrence of cancer. The use of fenretinide may be an effective way to prevent the development of cancer in patients with neoplasia of the mouth.

PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of fenretinide in preventing cancer in patients who have neoplasia of the mouth.

OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the efficacy of fenretinide in patients with oral intraepithelial neoplasia. II. Assess the toxicity of fenretinide in these patients.

OUTLINE: Patients receive oral fenretinide on days 1-25 every 28 days for a maximum of 6 courses. After 6 courses, patients receive a post-treatment biopsy. Patients exhibiting disease progression or unacceptable toxicities are removed from the study. Patients are followed at 3 and 6 months.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 51 patients will be accrued.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven oral mucosal intraepithelial neoplasia Stage II: moderate dysplasia, keratosis with atypia Stage III: severe keratinizing or nonkeratinizing dysplasia No myelodysplastic syndrome No retinopathies

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: See General Eligibility Criteria

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy: No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent endocrine therapy Radiotherapy: No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: Prior surgical ablation of prior dysplastic sites allowed Other: At least 2 months since prior therapy toxicities Patient Characteristics-- Age: Not specified Performance Status: SWOG 0-1 Life Expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception at least 1 month before, during, and at least 2 months after study