Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and fluorouracil, 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. It is not yet known which combination chemotherapy regimen is more effective in treating colorectal cancer.
PURPOSE: This randomized phase II/III trial is studying two combination chemotherapy regimens to compare how well they work in treating patients with metastatic colorectal cancer that cannot be removed by surgery.