DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Endoscopically confirmed localized tumor as the cause of colonic obstruction

  • All primary tumor types are eligible
• No prior colonic Wallstents

• Must have symptoms of gastrointestinal obstruction, including:

  • Inability to move bowels, absence of flatus, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-3

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• INR no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

• Not specified

Cardiovascular:

• No cardiac condition

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No significant active infection (e.g., pneumonia, peritonitis, wound abscess) that would preclude endoscopy
• No other serious concurrent illness
• No uncontrolled metabolic disease (e.g., diabetes or hypothyroidism)
• No dementia, psychiatric disorder, or altered mental status that would preclude compliance
• History of other neoplastic disease allowed
• Veterans Administration patients are not eligible

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• Prior or concurrent chemotherapy allowed

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• Prior or concurrent radiotherapy allowed

Surgery:

• At least 3 weeks since prior surgery and recovered