Surgery With or Without Radiofrequency Ablation Followed by Irinotecan in Treating Patients With Colorectal Cancer That is Metastatic to the Liver

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed primary colorectal adenocarcinoma
• Hepatic metastases that are considered completely resectable
• * No more than 4 metastases by dual phase CT scan OR
• Hepatic metastases that are not completely resectable but are amenable to complete destruction with resection and radiofrequency ablation
• * More than 4 metastases allowed if all disease can be resected or destroyed in situ with radiofrequency ablation
• No extrahepatic disease in any location
• No recurrent or second primary colorectal cancer by colonoscopy within the past year
• Received prior adjuvant chemotherapy with a fluorouracil-based regimen with the last dose at least 1 month prior to surgery
• No prior radiofrequency ablation with residual viable intrahepatic disease by CT scan
• No plans to be treated with radiofrequency ablation alone without surgical resection
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-1
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST and ALT no greater than 5 times ULN
• No Gilbert's disease or other known defect in hepatic conjugation or glucuronidation
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Cardiovascular:
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No congestive heart failure requiring therapy
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 30 days after study
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except inactive non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No active serious infection
• No other serious underlying medical condition or severe concurrent disease that would preclude study participation
• No dementia, significantly altered mental status, or psychiatric illness that would preclude study participation
• No known hypersensitivity to irinotecan
• No known infection with HIV or AIDS
• No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
• No history of seizures
• No drug or alcohol abuse within the past year
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior irinotecan
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• No prior radiotherapy to more than 30% of bone marrow
• No prior radiotherapy to the liver
• At least 3 months since prior radiotherapy to the pelvis or other areas
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior resection of hepatic metastases (wedge biopsy allowed)
• Other:
• No concurrent phenytoin, phenobarbital, or other antiepileptic medication
• No concurrent enrollment in other investigational drug trials