Thalidomide in Treating Patients Who Have Undergone Surgery and Chemotherapy for Cancer That Has Spread Throughout the Abdomen Due to Colorectal Cancer or Appendix Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Pathologically confirmed peritoneal carcinomatosis or adenomucinosis secondary to colorectal or appendiceal cancer

Underwent cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (IPHC) within the past 12 weeks

Patients with residual disease or no evidence of disease after IPHC are eligible
No extra-abdominal disease or parenchymal liver metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

ECOG performance status 0-3
Free of infection or postoperative complications
Hemoglobin > 8.0 g/dL
Absolute neutrophil count > 1,000/mm³
Platelet count > 100,000/mm³
PTT or PT < 1.5 times normal (except in patients who are receiving therapeutic anticoagulant therapy for non-related medical conditions, such as atrial fibrillation)
Bilirubin < 1.5 mg/dL OR direct bilirubin ≤ 1.0 mg/dL (for patients with Gilbert's syndrome)
AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times normal
Serum creatinine < 2.0 mg/dL
No peripheral neuropathy > grade 1, except localized neuropathy due to a mechanical cause or trauma
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use 2 effective methods of contraception for 4 months prior to, during, and for 4 months after treatment with thalidomide
No history of hepatic cirrhosis
No history of severe hypothyroidism
No history of medical problem such as severe congestive heart failure or active ischemic heart disease
No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
No known history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy, biologic therapy, or radiotherapy (except for IPHC)
No other concurrent systemic therapy
No concurrent high level sedatives
No concurrent sedating "recreational" drugs or alcohol