A Study of Amifostine (Ethyol) in Patients With Colorectal Cancer

In addition, this study will provide information on how subjects with colorectal cancer do while receiving amifostine in combination with other chemotherapy drugs. This study will also look at the frequency of complications associated with amifostine and chemotherapy. The FOLFOX chemotherapy regimen consists of three drugs, 5-FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin, all given intravenously (into the vein) every 2 weeks with or without Avastin given in combination with chemotherapy. FOLFOX has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of cancer of the colon or rectum. Amifostine is not a chemotherapy drug. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent moderate or severe dryness of the mouth caused by radiation treatment for head and neck cancer, and to prevent kidney damage caused by cisplatin chemotherapy treatment for ovarian and non-small cell lung cancer. Amifostine is not FDA approved for use in this study and is therefore considered investigational.