Comparison of Combination Chemotherapy Regimens in Treating Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed colorectal carcinoma
• * Metastatic disease
• Not amenable to surgery
• Unidimensionally measurable disease
• No bone metastases
• No brain metastases
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 to 75
• Performance status
• WHO 0-2
• Life expectancy
• At least 12 weeks
• Hematopoietic
• Neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (1.5 times ULN if hepatic metastases are present)
• SGPT and SGOT no greater than 3 times ULN (5 times ULN if hepatic metastases are present)
• Renal
• Creatinine no greater than 1.25 times ULN
• Cardiac
• No concurrent cardiac abnormalities that would preclude study therapy
• Pulmonary
• No concurrent pulmonary abnormalities that would preclude study therapy
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No chronic enteropathy
• No other prior cancer within the past 5 years except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or curatively treated basal cell skin cancer
• No concurrent severe uncontrolled infection
• No obstruction or partial obstruction that would interfere with study therapy
• No psychological, social, familial, or geographical situation that would preclude study participation
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• No concurrent anticancer biological response modifiers
• Chemotherapy
• No prior chemotherapy (except adjuvant chemotherapy completed more than 6 months ago)
• No prior irinotecan
• No prior oxaliplatin
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy
• No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy
• Radiotherapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior pelvic radiotherapy
• No prior abdominopelvic radiotherapy
• Surgery
• At least 4 weeks since prior surgery
• No prior extensive intestinal resection (i.e., more than 1 prior hemicolectomy or extensive resection of the small intestines)
• Other
• No other concurrent experimental medication
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy