Irinotecan in Treating Patients With Colorectal Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically proven advanced or disseminated colorectal cancer
• * Progressive disease on fluorouracil based chemotherapy OR
• * Recurrence of disease within 12 months of adjuvant therapy with fluorouracil
• No known CNS metastases or carcinomatous meningitis
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• SWOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 12 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• Granulocyte count greater than 1500/mm\^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT no greater than 3 times ULN (no greater than 5 times ULN if liver involved)
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• Calcium no greater than 12.0 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular:
• No myocardial infarction within past 6 months
• No congestive heart failure requiring therapy
• Neurologic:
• No severe psychiatric disorders
• No history of seizures
• Other:
• No active or uncontrolled infection
• HIV negative
• No prior malignancy within past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (random blood sugar 200 mg/dL or greater)
• No other severe concurrent disease
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Prior oxaliplatin allowed
• No prior irinotecan or topotecan
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• Not specified
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• No concurrent phenytoin, phenobarbital, or other antiepileptic prophylaxis