Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Cancer of the Gastrointestinal Tract

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed stage II, III, or IV adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract originating in 1 of the following:
• * Esophagus
• * Stomach
• * Pancreas
• * Small intestine
• * Colon or rectum
• * Gall bladder
• * Extrahepatic bile ducts
• * Ampulla of Vater
• Completed standard therapy and at risk of recurrent disease OR has relatively stable metastatic disease and a life expectancy of at least 6 months
• Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-producing tumor as evidenced by detectable blood levels of CEA or positive for CEA on immunohistochemical staining
• Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-A2+
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) 0-1
• Life expectancy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Hematopoietic:
• White Blood Count (WBC) at least 4,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL
• Hepatic:
• Serum Glutamic Oxalacetic Transaminase (SGOT) or Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT) no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal
• Hepatitis B and C negative
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• Other:
• No other prior malignancy unless currently disease free and off all therapy for that malignancy
• * Early skin cancer allowed
• No AIDS
• HIV negative
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 30 days after study participation
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• At least 4 weeks since prior surgery
• Other:
• No other concurrent therapy for malignancy