Laparoscopic-Assisted Surgery Compared With Open Surgery in Treating Patients With Colon Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Clinical diagnosis of primary adenocarcinoma
• * Involving a single colon segment:
• * Right colon from the ileocecal valve up to and including the hepatic flexure
• * Left colon from the splenic flexure to the junction of the sigmoid and descending colon
• * Sigmoid colon between the descending colon and the rectum (at least 15 cm from the dentate)
• Diagnosis based on physical exam plus either a proctosigmoidoscopy and barium enema or a colonoscopy
• No advanced local disease that renders laparoscopic resection impossible
• No acutely obstructed or perforated colon cancer requiring urgent surgery
• No transverse colon cancer (i.e., between distal hepatic flexure and proximal splenic flexure)
• No stage IV disease
• No rectal cancer (i.e., below the peritoneal reflection, lower edge of tumor less than 15 cm from dentate)
• No American Society of Anesthesiologists IV/V disease classification
• No associated gastrointestinal diseases (i.e., Crohn's, chronic ulcerative colitis, or familial polyposis) that require additional extensive operative evaluation or intervention
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Other:
• No other prior or concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except superficial squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Surgery:
• No prohibitive scars/adhesions from prior abdominal surgery
• Other:
• No concurrent investigational treatments or invasive diagnostic procedures within 30 days after surgery