Surgery With or Without Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic colorectal carcinoma previously resected within 12 weeks of study entry
• * Surgical resection combined with radiofrequency ablation allowed
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Not specified
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Hemoglobin at least 8.0 g/dL
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)/prothrombin time (PT) no greater than 120% of control (except in therapeutically anticoagulated nonrelated medical conditions \[e.g., atrial fibrillation\])
• Total bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL (direct bilirubin no greater than 1.0 mg/dL for patients with Gilbert's syndrome)
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) less than 2.5 times normal
• No history of hepatic cirrhosis
• No concurrent hepatic dysfunction
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular:
• No severe congestive heart failure or active ischemic heart disease
• No active clots within 1 year before diagnosis OR must be receiving concurrent treatment with anticoagulant (e.g., low molecular weight heparin or equivalent agent)
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use 1 highly effective method of contraception AND 1 additional effective method of contraception for least 4 weeks before, during, and for at least 4 weeks after study participation
• No history of severe hypothyroidism
• No history of seizures
• No significant history of other medical problems that would preclude surgery
• No peripheral neuropathy greater than grade 1, except localized neuropathy due to a mechanical cause or trauma
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Other:
• See Cardiovascular
• No concurrent sedating drugs that cannot be reduced to a minimal level
• No concurrent sedating recreational drugs or alcohol
• No concurrent antiseizure medications