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