UMCC 003 Cancer-Related Protein Biomarkers in Blood and Tumor Tissue of Patients With Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Meets 1 of the following criteria (patient): * Scheduled to undergo primary surgical resection or first debulking surgery (prior to any anticancer treatment) for suspected or newly diagnosed cancer, including any of the following types: * Breast cancer * Adenocarcinoma of the colon * Adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus * Non-small cell lung cancer * Ovarian epithelial adenocarcinoma * Metastatic or unresectable cancer, including any of the following types: * Breast cancer * Adenocarcinoma of the colon * Adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus * Hepatoma * Non-small cell lung cancer * Small cell lung cancer * Ovarian epithelial adenocarcinoma * Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas * Meets the following criteria (healthy participant): * No chronic disease * Healthy participants with a history of cancer must be cancer-free for 5 years (skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix within the past 5 years allowed) * Willing to provide 60 mL of blood * Not a blood relative of an eligible and consenting cancer patient PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Able to tolerate the removal of 30-60 mL of blood * No feelings of light-headedness, dizziness, or fainting within the past 2 weeks * Pulse less than 100 on day of blood draw for study enrollment PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy or radiot…