Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Colorectal Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum
• * Metastatic, locally advanced, or recurrent disease
• Patients must have at least 2 generations (parents and grandparents) who belong to one of the following racial groups:
• * Asian or Pacific Islander (e.g., China, Japan, Korea, the Philippine Islands, or Samoa)
• * Black (originating from the black racial groups of Africa)
• * Hispanic (originating from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central or South America, or other Spanish culture)
• * White (originating from the peoples of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East)
• No patients with parents or grandparents of mixed race or race other than that of the patient
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• Not specified
• Performance status:
• CTC 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• AST no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• Prior adjuvant fluorouracil allowed if relapse occurred at least 6 months after completion of fluorouracil
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)
• No prior irinotecan
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• No concurrent hormones except steroids for adrenal failure, hormones for nondisease related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes), or intermittent dexamethasone as an antiemetic
• No concurrent prednisone
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (except to bone or soft tissue involving less than 25% of bone marrow)
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery
• Other:
• No concurrent phenobarbital, valproate, or cyclosporine
• None of the following concurrently during first course of therapy:
• * Macrolide antibiotics (e.g., azithromycin, erythromycin, clarithromycin, troleandomycin, dapsone)
• * Azole antibiotics (e.g., fuconazole, miconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole)
• * Triazobenzodiazepines (e.g., alprazolam, midazolam, triazolam)
• * Antidepressants (e.g., fluoxetine, setraline hydrochloride, fluoxamine, nefazodone hydrochloride)
• * Quinolone antimicrobials (e.g., ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin)
• * Imidazole antibiotics (e.g., clotrimazole)
• * Anti-ulcer medications (e.g., omeprazole, lansoprazole)
• * Ethinyl estradiol
• * Diltiazem
• * Cimetidine hydrochloride
• * Cisapride
• * Terfenadine
• * Rifampin
• * Glucocorticoids
• * Antiepileptics
• * Grapefruit juice