Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced, locally recurrent, or metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma not curable by surgery or radiotherapy

Histological or cytological requirement waived in patients who developed radiological or clinical evidence of metastatic cancer after a prior surgical resection unless:

More than 5 years has elapsed since primary surgery OR
Primary cancer was stage I or II
Site of primary lesion must be or have been confirmed endoscopically, radiologically, or surgically to be or have been in the large bowel
Measurable or evaluable disease
No CNS metastases or carcinomatous meningitis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL (transfusion allowed)

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
AST no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 5 times ULN

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

No uncontrolled hypertension
No unstable angina
No symptomatic congestive heart failure
No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
No serious uncontrolled arrhythmia
No New York Heart Association class III or IV cardiac disease

Pulmonary:

No interstitial pneumonia or extensive and symptomatic interstitial fibrosis of the lung
No pleural effusion or ascites that cause respiratory compromise (grade 2 or worse dyspnea)

Other:

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No active or uncontrolled infection
No symptomatic sensory peripheral neuropathy
No known allergy to platinum compounds
No history of gastrointestinal bleeding unless it is determined to be acceptable by the enrolling physician
No other prior or concurrent malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix, or other resected malignant tumor with less than a 10% probability of tumor relapse within 3 years of diagnosis
No medical or psychiatric conditions that would preclude study
No colonic or small bowel disorders with uncontrolled symptoms of more than 3 loose stools per day
Colostomy or ileostomy allowed at investigator's discretion

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

Prior adjuvant immunotherapy for resected stage II-IV disease allowed if adjuvant therapy concluded at least 1 year before documentation of recurrent disease
No concurrent sargramostim (GM-CSF)

Chemotherapy:

No prior chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer
No prior standard adjuvant chemotherapy for rectal cancer
Prior adjuvant fluorouracil for resected stage II-IV disease allowed if adjuvant therapy concluded at least 1 year before documentation of recurrent disease

Radiotherapy:

See Disease Characteristics
At least 4 weeks since prior major radiotherapy (e.g., chest or bone palliative radiotherapy)
No prior radiotherapy to more than 15% of bone marrow
No prior standard adjuvant radiotherapy for rectal cancer

Surgery:

See Disease Characteristics
At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery (e.g., laparotomy) (2 weeks for minor surgery) and recovered
Insertion of a vascular access device not considered major or minor surgery

Other:

No other concurrent investigational agents