DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed (by core biopsy) ductal carcinoma in situ

  • Stage 0 disease
• Hormone receptor status not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Menopausal status not specified
• ECOG performance status 0-2
• ANC ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL
• Potassium and magnesium levels normal
• Prothrombin time or INR ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless the patient is receiving therapeutic anticoagulation)
• Partial thromboplastin time ≤ 1.2 times ULN (unless the patient is receiving therapeutic anticoagulation)
• Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use 2 effective barrier methods of contraception
• No known psychiatric or substance abuse disorder that would preclude cooperation with the study requirements
• No active hepatitis A, B, or C infection
• No active HIV infection
• No other active infection
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years
• No condition that would interfere with the absorption or intake of vorinostat
• No history or current evidence of any condition or laboratory abnormality that would confound study results, interfere with the patient's participation in the full duration of the study, or that would not be in the best interest of the patient to participate

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• More than 2 weeks since prior IV antibiotics, antivirals, or antifungals
• No prior gastrointestinal surgery or other procedure that would interfere with the absorption or intake of vorinostat
• No prior or concurrent therapy with any other HDAC inhibitor, including valproic acid
• No prior treatment with any other investigational agent
• No concurrent systemic steroids
• No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy, radiotherapy, biological therapy, or other investigational therapy