Irinotecan or Fluorouracil Plus Leucovorin in Treating Patients With Previously Treated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Diagnosis of metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma incurable by surgery or not amenable to radiotherapy with curative intent
• Progressive disease after one of the following prior treatments for metastatic disease:
• * Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy
• * Irinotecan and oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy
• At least 1 measurable lesion
• * At least 20 mm in at least one dimension
• No known CNS metastases or carcinomatous meningitis
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 12 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 0.5 mg/dL above upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST no greater than 5 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Cardiovascular:
• No unstable angina
• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia
• Other:
• No active or uncontrolled infection
• No evidence of other serious illness
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or noninvasive carcinomas
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No concurrent sargramostim (GM-CSF)
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for advanced colorectal cancer
• Prior adjuvant chemotherapy allowed
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of bone marrow
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery