BMS-247550 in Treating Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma

Prior treatment for metastatic disease with at least:

One regimen of irinotecan in combination with a fluoropyrimidine OR

Two regimens comprising fluoropyrimidine-based first-line therapy and irinotecan-based second-line therapy

May have received cetuximab and/or a fluoropyrimidine as part of second- line therapy
Disease progression during or within 4 months of treatment with irinotecan
At least 1 bidimensionally measurable lesion
No known CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm^3
Platelet count greater than 125,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if hepatic metastases present)

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
No history of unstable angina, myocardial infarction, or congestive heart failure within the past 6 months

Other:

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No known prior severe hypersensitivity reactions to agents containing Cremophor EL
No motor or sensory neuropathy grade 2 or greater
No concurrent serious uncontrolled infection or other nonmalignant medical illness
No concurrent psychiatric disorders or other conditions that would preclude study compliance
No other active malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

See Disease Characteristics
No concurrent immunotherapy
No growth factors for 24 hours before and after cytotoxic chemotherapy

Chemotherapy:

See Disease Characteristics
Additional prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy allowed
At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
No more than 2 prior regimens of cytotoxic chemotherapy for metastatic disease
No prior oxaliplatin
No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

No concurrent hormonal therapy except hormone replacement therapy

Radiotherapy:

At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
No prior radiotherapy to target lesion unless the lesion has shown progression after completion of radiotherapy

No concurrent therapeutic radiotherapy

Focal radiotherapy for palliation of bone symptoms may be allowed

Surgery:

At least 1 week since prior minor surgery (3 weeks for major surgery) and recovered

Other:

No other concurrent experimental anticancer medications