Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Colorectal Cancer Metastatic to the Liver

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed hepatic colorectal metastases * Must have undergone complete resection of hepatic colorectal metastases with tumor-free margins (curative resection) at least 6, but no more than 10, weeks prior to study entry * No evaluable or measurable disease after hepatic resection, documented by intraoperative palpation or imaging studies including intraoperative ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI * No hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer type B * No CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * CTC 0-2 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 4,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 150,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 2 mg/dL * AST no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Gastrointestinal: * No celiac disease * No familial polyposis * No Gardner's syndrome * No Peutz-Jeghers syndrome Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No seizure disorders requiring continuous medication * No history of clinically significant hypersensitivity reactions, including known hypersensitivity to rodent proteins * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or nonmelanoma skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No prior murine antibodies (e.g., oncoscint scan) * No prior monoclonal antibody 3H1 anti-idiotype vaccine or monoclonal antibody 11D10 anti-idiotype vaccine Chemotherapy: * No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent hormonal therapy except steroids for adrenal failure or hormones for non-disease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes) Radiotherapy: * Not specified Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics Other: * Prior treatment for primary lesion or hepatic metastases allowed * No concurrent immunomodulatory therapy