Isolated Hepatic Perfusion With Melphalan Followed By Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Unresectable Colorectal Cancer That is Metastatic to the Liver

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA:

--Disease Characteristics-- Histologically or cytologically proven measurable metastatic colorectal cancer limited to the parenchyma of the liver No evidence of unresectable extrahepatic disease Limited resectable extrahepatic disease allowed Unresectable liver disease defined as: Greater than 3 sites of liver disease OR Bilobar disease OR Tumor abutting major vascular or ductal structures, impeding resection with preservation of liver function OR Limited extrahepatic disease No biopsy-proven cirrhosis No significant portal hypertension --Prior/Concurrent Therapy-- Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy for colorectal cancer and recovered Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy for colorectal cancer and recovered No prior intrahepatic arterial infusional therapy using floxuridine Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy for colorectal cancer and recovered Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: No concurrent immunosuppressive drugs No concurrent chronic anticoagulants --Patient Characteristics-- Age: Not specified Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hematocrit greater than 27.0% WBC greater than 3,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL PT no greater than 2 seconds over upper limit of normal Elevated hepatic transaminases secondary to liver metastases allowed No veno-occlusive disease Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No congestive heart failure with LVEF less than 40% Pulmonary: No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease No other chronic pulmonary disease with pulmonary function test less than 50% predicted Other: No active infections HIV negative Body weight greater than 30 kg Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test