GM-CSF and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients Who Are Undergoing Surgery for Stage II or Stage III Colon Cancer

RATIONALE: Colony-stimulating factors, such as GM-CSF, may increase the number of immune cells found in bone marrow or peripheral blood and may help the immune system recover from the side effects of chemotherapy or kill tumor cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells. Giving combination chemotherapy after surgery may kill any remaining tumor cells. Sometimes, after surgery, the tumor may not need additional treatment until it progresses. In this case, observation may be sufficient.
PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well GM-CSF and combination chemotherapy work in treating patients who are undergoing surgery for stage II or stage III colon cancer.