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