PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Sex: Female Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute granulocyte count greater than 1500/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No uncontrolled congestive heart failure Other: Fasting serum triglycerides less than 400 mg/dL Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for one year after completing fenretinide therapy No concurrent serious illness or infection, e.g., septicemia No prior thromboembolic disease No prior degenerative retinal disease