Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Must not be eligible for Inter-group, Cooperative Group, or local clinical trials of higher priority
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma
• * Locally advanced or metastatic
• * Not curable by surgery or amenable to radiation therapy with curative intent
• Site of primary lesion must be or have been in the large bowel, as confirmed endoscopically, radiologically, or surgically
• No separate histological or cytological confirmation of metastatic disease is required for patients with a history of colorectal cancer treated by surgical resection who develop radiological or clinical evidence of metastatic cancer unless:
• * More than 5 years has elapsed since prior primary surgery and the development of metastatic disease OR
• * Primary cancer was a Duke's A or B1 lesion
• Measurable or evaluable disease
• No prior chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer
• * Prior adjuvant therapy allowed for resected stage II, III, or IV disease with any regimen containing fluorouracil with or without irinotecan or with immunotherapy, provided recurrent disease has been documented
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 15 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2 OR
• Karnofsky 60-100%
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL (transfusion allowed)
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL (regardless of liver involvement secondary to tumor)
• AST less than 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase less than 5 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Cardiovascular:
• No uncontrolled high blood pressure
• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No New York Heart Association class III-IV cardiac disease
• Pulmonary:
• No interstitial pneumonia or extensive and symptomatic interstitial fibrosis of the lung
• No pleural effusion or ascites that causes respiratory compromise (i.e., dyspnea grade 2 or greater)
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No history of allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to platinum agents or oxaliplatin as well as other study agents
• No neuropathy grade 2 or greater, regardless of causality
• No HIV-positive patients receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy
• No ongoing or active infection
• No uncontrolled concurrent illness
• No psychiatric or social situations that would preclude study compliance
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent sargramostim
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior major radiotherapy (e.g., chest or bone palliative radiotherapy)
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery (e.g., laparotomy)
• At least 2 weeks since prior minor surgery
• Insertion of a vascular access device is not considered major or minor surgery
• Other:
• Recovered from effects of prior treatment
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No oral cryotherapy on day 1 of each course