Immune Response in Peripheral Blood of Patients With Colon Cancer

OBJECTIVES: * Quantify T cells specific for tumor peptides (carcinoembryonic antigen and MUC1) from the peripheral blood of patients with colon cancer. OUTLINE: This is an open-label study. Patients undergo blood collection at time of follow-up, surgery, thoracentesis, paracentesis, or leukapheresis (≤ 5 times per year). Blood is analyzed for tumor peptides (carcinoembryonic antigen and MUC1), circulating cytokines, and lymphocyte response by ELISA, ELISPOT, or intracellular flow. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 140 patients will be accrued for this study.