Rebeccamycin Analog in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Locally Recurrent Colorectal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic or locally recurrent adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum
• No curable stage of disease
• At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion
• At 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• No tumor lesions in previously irradiated area except clearly measurable lesion documented histologically to be consistent with recurrent tumor in previously irradiated bed within pelvis
• The following are considered nonmeasurable disease:
• Bone lesions Leptomeningeal disease
• Ascites
• Pleural/pericardial effusion
• Inflammatory breast disease
• Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis
• Abdominal masses not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
• Cystic lesions
• No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Age: 18 and over
• Performance status: ECOG 0-2 OR Karnofsky 60-100%
• Life expectancy: More than 12 weeks
• WBC at least 3,000/mm3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
• Bilirubin normal
• AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study
• Eligible for placement of a central venous catheter
• No prior allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to rebeccamycin analogue
• No other uncontrolled concurrent illness
• No ongoing or active infection
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No concurrent prophylactic growth factors (e.g., epoetin alfa) except for clinically defined indication (e.g., filgrastim (G-CSF) for febrile neutropenia)
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (e.g., fluorouracil, oral fluoropyrimidines, irinotecan, or oxaliplatin) (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• No concurrent hormones except for clinically defined indication
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (including to bony sites, whole pelvis, lung, liver, or spinal cord/brain) and recovered
• No prior total dose of radiotherapy more than 7,000 cGy
• No prior radiotherapy to 40% or more of total bone marrow
• No prior radiotherapy to only site of measurable disease
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Recovered from prior therapy 1 prior adjuvant treatment allowed 1 prior treatment for advanced disease allowed
• At least 4 weeks since prior investigational agents
• No other concurrent investigational antineoplastic drugs
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No concurrent commercial agents for colorectal cancer
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients