Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum

  • Metastatic disease

    • No metastases involving only the bone
• Inoperable disease (i.e., not suitable for complete surgical resection)

• Measurable or evaluable disease

  • Measurable disease defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional CT scan OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• No symptomatic ascites or pleural effusion that has not been evacuated
• No CNS metastasis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• WHO OR ECOG performance status 0-2
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelets ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• Creatinine < 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase < 5 times ULN
• No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 1
• No total or partial bowel obstruction
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No uncontrolled hypercalcemia
• No other concurrent or prior malignancy, except adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix or basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or cancer in complete remission for ≥ 5 years
• No uncontrolled congestive heart failure
• No angina pectoris
• No hypertension
• No arrhythmias
• No history of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorders
• No active infection
• No other serious nonmalignant disease

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No prior chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy for metastatic disease
• Prior adjuvant chemotherapy allowed provided progression-free interval after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy is > 6 months
• No other concurrent anticancer treatment
• No participation in another clinical trial with any investigational drug within 30 days prior to randomization
• No other concurrent investigational treatment
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• No concurrent cold cap for prevention of alopecia or iced mouth rinses for prevention of stomatitis