Biomarker-Guided Fluorouracil in Treating Patients With Colorectal Cancer Receiving Combination Chemotherapy

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed colorectal cancer
Patients scheduled to receive mFOLFOX6 (in the adjuvant setting or for metastatic disease) as part of their chemotherapy regimen

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

ECOG performance status 0-2
Life expectancy > 6 months
ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN (≤ 5 times ULN in the presence of liver metastases)
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
Negative pregnancy test
Not pregnant or nursing
No serious concomitant systemic disorders, including active infection that, in the opinion of the investigator, would compromise the patient's safety or ability to complete the study
No altered mental status precluding understanding of the informed consent process and/or completion of the necessary studies
Must be able to follow protocol requirements and give informed consent

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

See Disease Characteristics
Concurrent bevacizumab allowed

No concurrent warfarin (Coumadin®)

Concurrent enoxaparin (Lovenox®) allowed
No concurrent theophylline or aminophylline
No chocolate beginning 12 hours before day 1 of each course and through the end of that course's fluorouracil continuous IV