Visceral Lymphatic Mapping Using Isosulfan Blue in Patients With Cancer of the Pancreas, Colon, Stomach, Small Intestine, or Gallbladder

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

- Evaluate the safety and feasibility of visceral lymphatic mapping using isosulfan blue
in patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, colon, stomach, small bowel, or
gallbladder.

- Evaluate the ability of surgically defined sentinel lymph nodes to predict whether
other lymph nodes in the basin are involved with the tumor in these patients.

Secondary

- Compare the results obtained from the sentinel lymph node (i.e., positive or negative
for metastatic disease) with the results obtained from the other nodes in these
patients.

- Compare immunohistochemical analysis with standard analysis of the sentinel lymph nodes
in these patients.

- Evaluate the value of intraoperative touch prep analysis of sentinel lymph nodes in
these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a pilot study.

During surgical resection of the primary tumor, patients receive isosulfan blue
subcutaneously 5 minutes before undergoing sentinel lymph node identification/excision and
radical lymphadenectomy. Tissue samples are analyzed by IHC for cytokeratins and CEA.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of 1 of the following sites:

- Pancreas

- Stomach

- Colon

- Small bowel

- Gallbladder

- Patients with highly suspicious pancreatic lesions without definitive tissue biopsy
are eligible

- No prior uncontrolled visceral malignancy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No medical comorbidities that would preclude definitive resection

- No known allergies to isosulfan blue

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- Not specified