ZD 1839 Plus Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced, Locally Recurrent, or Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum
• * Locally advanced, locally recurrent, or metastatic disease
• * Not curable by surgery and/or not amenable to radiotherapy with curative intent
• * Histological or cytological confirmation of metastatic cancer not required for patients with prior surgically resected colorectal cancer if more than 5 years elapsed between primary surgery and development of metastatic disease OR if primary cancer was stage I or II
• Prior adjuvant therapy with fluorouracil or immunotherapy for resected stage II, III, or IV disease allowed
• Measurable disease
• No known brain metastases
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-1
• Life expectancy:
• More than 12 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin normal
• AST/ALT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine normal
• Cardiovascular:
• No uncontrolled high blood pressure
• No unstable angina
• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
• Other:
• No active or uncontrolled infection
• No predisposing colonic or small bowel disorders with uncontrolled symptoms as indicated by more than 3 loose stools daily in patients without a colostomy or ileostomy
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or adequately treated noninvasive carcinomas
• No other concurrent medical or psychiatric condition that would preclude study
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• At least 12 months since prior immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 12 months since prior fluorouracil
• No prior chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer
• No prior irinotecan
• Radiotherapy:
• No prior radiotherapy to more than 15% of bone marrow
• At least 4 weeks since prior major radiotherapy (e.g., chest or bone palliative radiotherapy)
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery (e.g., laparotomy) and recovered
• At least 2 weeks since prior minor surgery and recovered
• No concurrent ophthalmic surgery
• Other:
• No prior ZD 1839
• No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies for malignancy
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV
• No concurrent oral retinoids
• No concurrent prochlorperazine on day of irinotecan administration