Surgery With or Without Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic colorectal carcinoma previously resected within 12 weeks of study entry

Surgical resection combined with radiofrequency ablation allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

Not specified

Life expectancy:

Not specified

Hematopoietic:

Hemoglobin at least 8.0 g/dL
Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm^3
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)/prothrombin time (PT) no greater than 120% of control (except in therapeutically anticoagulated nonrelated medical conditions [e.g., atrial fibrillation])
Total bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL (direct bilirubin no greater than 1.0 mg/dL for patients with Gilbert's syndrome)
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) less than 2.5 times normal
No history of hepatic cirrhosis
No concurrent hepatic dysfunction

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

No severe congestive heart failure or active ischemic heart disease
No active clots within 1 year before diagnosis OR must be receiving concurrent treatment with anticoagulant (e.g., low molecular weight heparin or equivalent agent)

Other:

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use 1 highly effective method of contraception AND 1 additional effective method of contraception for least 4 weeks before, during, and for at least 4 weeks after study participation
No history of severe hypothyroidism
No history of seizures
No significant history of other medical problems that would preclude surgery
No peripheral neuropathy greater than grade 1, except localized neuropathy due to a mechanical cause or trauma

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy

Chemotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

Not specified

Radiotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

See Disease Characteristics

Other:

See Cardiovascular
No concurrent sedating drugs that cannot be reduced to a minimal level
No concurrent sedating recreational drugs or alcohol
No concurrent antiseizure medications