MUC1 Vaccine in Preventing Lung Cancer in Current and Former Smokers at High Risk for Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * PRE-REGISTRATION INCLUSION CRITERIA * Smoking history of \>= 30 pack-years AND either current smoker (still smoking or quit \< 1 year prior to pre-registration) OR former smoker (quit 1-15 years prior to pre-registration); Note: Pack years is determined by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years smoked * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =\< 1 * Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest done =\< 6 months prior to pre-registration showing either negative findings (no nodules) or solid or part-solid nodules \< 6 mm in size (consistent with \< 1% probability of malignancy, Lung-Reporting and Data Systems \[RADs\] version 1.0) * Willingness to employ adequate contraception, if applicable; Note: women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation; should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her study physician immediately * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document * REGISTRATION INCLUSION CRITERIA * Leukocytes (white blood cell \[WBC\]) \>= 3,000/microliter * Neutrophils (absolute neutrophil count \[ANC\]) \>= 1,500/microliter * Platelets \>= 100,000/microliter * Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) Note: Highe…