Gene Therapy in Treating Patients With Colon Cancer That Has Spread to the Liver

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the colon

At least 3 metastatic hepatic lesions involving both lobes
No extrahepatic disease
Failed first-line combination chemotherapy of fluorouracil plus either leucovorin calcium or irinotecan
Herpes simplex virus type-1 seropositive
Candidate for intrahepatic arterial infusion pump placement

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy:

Not specified

Hematopoietic:

WBC greater than 3,000/mm^3
Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3
Hemoglobin greater than 9.0 g/dL
No history of any blood clotting disorder (e.g., hemophilia)

Hepatic:

Transaminases no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal
Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
No active hepatitis
No history of hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, or hemochromatosis

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

Other:

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
All patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for at least 6 months after study
HIV negative
No active herpes infection
No other active uncontrolled infection
No prior weight loss of more than 10 lbs within the past month
No history of alcohol or other substance abuse
No concurrent unstable and/or severe medical or psychological condition
No history of any other medical or psychological condition that would preclude study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy (e.g., interleukin-2, interleukin -12, or interferon)
No prior gene transfer therapy
No prior therapy with cytolytic virus of any type
No concurrent immunotherapy during and for 28 days after study therapy
No concurrent vaccines during and for 28 days after study therapy

Chemotherapy:

See Disease Characteristics
At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)
No concurrent chemotherapy during and for 28 days after study therapy

Endocrine therapy:

No concurrent systemic steroids during and for 28 days after study therapy

Radiotherapy:

No prior radiotherapy to the liver
No concurrent radiotherapy during and for 28 days after study therapy

Surgery:

At least 2 weeks since prior surgery

Other:

At least 30 days since prior participation in investigational study
No concurrent antiviral agent active against herpes simplex virus (e.g., acyclovir, valacyclovir, penciclovir, famciclovir, ganciclovir, foscarnet, or cidofovir) during and for 28 days after study therapy
No concurrent immunosuppressive agents (e.g., cyclosporine) during and for 28 days after study therapy
No other concurrent investigational or anti-cancer agents during and for 28 days after study therapy