Hepatic Arterial Infusion With Floxuridine and Dexamethasone Combined With Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Colorectal Cancer That Has Spread to the Liver

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma metastatic to the liver

  * Previously treated or untreated disease
  * No clinical or radiographic evidence of extrahepatic disease
* Primary tumor may be present at study registration provided it is not obstructing the intestinal lumen or is significantly bleeding

  * If present, the primary tumor will be resected at the time of pump placement
* Must have inoperable liver metastases confirmed by 2-3 hepatobiliary surgeons and the assigned radiologist

  * Liver metastases \< 70% of the liver parenchyma
  * Inoperable liver metastases is defined by one of the following:

    * More than 6 metastases in a single lobe with one lesion ≥ 5 cm
    * At least 6 metastases distributed diffusely in both lobes of the liver
    * When a margin-negative resection would require resection of all three hepatic veins, both portal veins, or the retrohepatic vena cava
    * Requires a resection that leaves \< 2 hepatic segments (not including the caudate lobe) behind with adequate arterial or portal inflow, venous outflow, and biliary drainage
* No ascites or hepatic encephalopathy
* No history of primary CNS tumors

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Karnofsky performance status 60-100%
* WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3
* ANC ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
* INR \< 1.5
* Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL
* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
* Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* Physically able to tolerate major partial hepatectomy
* No active infection
* No concurrent active malignancies, except potentially resectable primary colorectal tumor
* No bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy
* No history of serious systemic disease, including any of the following:

  * Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
  * Uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., blood pressure \> 150/100 mm Hg on medication)
  * Unstable angina
  * New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure
  * Unstable symptomatic arrhythmia requiring medication

    * Chronic atrial arrhythmia (i.e., atrial fibrillation or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia) allowed
  * Peripheral vascular disease ≥ grade 2
* No serious or nonhealing active wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
* No history of seizures not well controlled with standard medical therapy
* No stroke or transient ischemic attack within the past 6 months
* No concurrent obstruction of the gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to the pelvis
* Prior chemotherapy allowed
* No prior radiotherapy, hepatic thermal ablation, or resection (other than biopsy) to the liver
* No prior floxuridine
* No prior hepatic arterial infusion
* No concurrent chronic aspirin (\> 325 mg/day) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications known to inhibit platelet function
* No other concurrent investigational agents