RATIONALE: Inserting a gene that has been created in the laboratory into a person's white blood cells may make the body build an immune response to kill cancer cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of gene therapy in treating patients who have cancer that has not responded to previous therapy.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the safety and maximum tolerated dose of T cells activated in vitro and modified with chimeric anti-CEA immunoglobulin T cell receptors (Ig TCR) in patients with CEA expressing adenocarcinoma. II. Determine the pharmacokinetics of this regimen by the persistence of modified T cells in the blood of these patients. III. Evaluate the immunogenicity of murine sequences in chimeric anti-CEA Ig TCR. IV. Assess immunologic parameters which correlate with the efficacy of this regimen in these patients. V. Evaluate, in a preliminary manner, the efficacy of this regimen in patients with CEA bearing tumors.

PROTOCOL OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation study. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) are harvested. PBL are activated in vitro and then modified with recombinant chimeric anti-CEA immunoglobulin T cell receptors (Ig TCR). Ig TCR modified T cells are reinfused over 30-60 minutes. The estimated maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is defined as the dose at which 2 of 6 patients experience unacceptable toxicity. If the MTD is not reached within the first cohort, a second cohort of 3 patients then receives 4 doses of modified T cells at a higher dose. Patients are followed every 2 weeks for 2 months.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 6-9 patients will be accrued for this study.

Ages Eligible for Study:  18 Years and above

Criteria

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA:

--Disease Characteristics--

• Histologically proven CEA expressing adenocarcinoma; Serum CEA levels greater than 10 ng/mL; Failed standard therapy
• Measurable disease

--Prior/Concurrent Therapy--

• Biologic therapy: Not specified
• Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy: Not specified
• Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• Surgery: Not specified

--Patient Characteristics--

• Age: 18 and over
• Performance status: 0-2
• Life expectancy: Greater than 2 months
• Hematopoietic: Not specified
• Hepatic: No significant hepatic disease; Bilirubin no greater than 3 mg/dL; No active clinical disease caused by hepatitis B
• Renal: No significant renal disease; Creatinine no greater than 3 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular: No significant cardiovascular disease
• Pulmonary: No significant pulmonary disease
• Other: Not pregnant; Negative pregnancy test; Fertile patients must use effective contraception; No significant endocrine, rheumatologic, or allergic disease; No active clinical disease caused by cytomegalovirus or tuberculosis; HIV negative