DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the colon

  • Stage I disease
  • Distal border of tumor ≥ 12 cm from the anal verge
• Tumor completely resected within the past 90 days

• Must have undergone a preoperative or postoperative colonoscopy to the cecum (or small bowel anastomosis) within the past 90 days

  • All observed polyps must have been removed

• Patients with a history suggestive of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) must have a normal microsatellite instability status by immunohistochemistry or polymerase chain reaction

  • Patients with family history of colon cancer who have not been diagnosed with HNPCC are eligible
• No prior familial adenomatous polyposis
• No prior invasive cancer or carcinoma in situ of the colon or rectum
• No clinical or radiologic evidence of metastatic disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy

• At least 10 years

Hematopoietic

• Complete blood count normal
• Platelet count normal

Hepatic

• AST normal
• Bilirubin normal
• Alkaline phosphatase normal

Renal

• Creatinine normal

Cardiovascular

• No active ischemic heart disease
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No symptomatic arrhythmia
• No symptomatic peripheral vascular disease or carotid disease that would preclude study participation

Pulmonary

• No aspirin-sensitive asthma

Gastrointestinal

• No history of inflammatory bowel disease
• No history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding
• No history of duodenal or gastric ulcer

Other

• No known hypersensitivity to any COX-2 inhibitor, NSAIDs, aspirin, or sulfonamides
• No non-colorectal malignancy within the past 5 years except carcinoma in situ of the cervix, melanoma in situ, or basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
• No other disease that would preclude study participation
• No psychiatric disorders, including history of clinical depression or addictive disorders, that would preclude giving informed consent or long-term compliance
• No rheumatologic or skeletal disorders requiring chronic NSAIDs or steroid therapy
• 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

Other

• No other concurrent investigational agents for colon cancer

• No concurrent chronic use of other cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or salicylates (e.g., aspirin)

  • Chronic use is defined as use for more than an average of 3 days per month

    • Concurrent NSAIDs allowed for up to 10 consecutive days for temporary relief due to inflammatory syndromes, injury, or postoperative pain
  • Cardioprotective doses of aspirin (≤ 81 mg/day or 325 mg every other day) allowed
• No concurrent fluconazole or lithium