Inclusion Criteria

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

Performance status:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- Not specified

Hepatic:

- Not specified

Renal:

- Not specified

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:

Biologic therapy:

- Not specified

Chemotherapy:

- Not specified

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- Not specified

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No prohibitive scars/adhesions from prior abdominal surgery

Other:

- No concurrent investigational treatments or invasive diagnostic procedures within 30
days after surgery