ZD 1839 Plus Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced, Locally Recurrent, or Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum

  * Locally advanced, locally recurrent, or metastatic disease
  * Not curable by surgery and/or not amenable to radiotherapy with curative intent
  * Histological or cytological confirmation of metastatic cancer not required for patients with prior surgically resected colorectal cancer if more than 5 years elapsed between primary surgery and development of metastatic disease OR if primary cancer was stage I or II
* Prior adjuvant therapy with fluorouracil or immunotherapy for resected stage II, III, or IV disease allowed
* Measurable disease
* No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

* More than 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

* WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin normal
* AST/ALT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

* Creatinine normal

Cardiovascular:

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

Other:

* No active or uncontrolled infection
* No predisposing colonic or small bowel disorders with uncontrolled symptoms as indicated by more than 3 loose stools daily in patients without a colostomy or ileostomy
* No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or adequately treated noninvasive carcinomas
* No other concurrent medical or psychiatric condition that would preclude study
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* At least 12 months since prior immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

* At least 12 months since prior fluorouracil
* No prior chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer
* No prior irinotecan

Radiotherapy:

* No prior radiotherapy to more than 15% of bone marrow
* At least 4 weeks since prior major radiotherapy (e.g., chest or bone palliative radiotherapy)
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

* At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery (e.g., laparotomy) and recovered
* At least 2 weeks since prior minor surgery and recovered
* No concurrent ophthalmic surgery

Other:

* No prior ZD 1839
* No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies for malignancy
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV
* No concurrent oral retinoids
* No concurrent prochlorperazine on day of irinotecan administration