OBJECTIVES:

• Compare the survival of patients with liver-dominant metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma treated with irinotecan, fluorouracil, and leucovorin calcium with or without hepatic chemoembolization.
• Compare response in the liver, time to hepatic tumor progression, and time to extrahepatic tumor progression in patients treated with these regimens.
• Compare the possible treatment differences with respect to morbidity, toxic effects of chemoembolization, toxic effects of chemotherapy, and death from cancer-related complications in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a phase I dose-escalation study followed by a phase III randomized, multicenter study. (Phase I closed as of 10/14/02.)

• Phase I: Patients in phase I are sequentially enrolled to 1 of 3 treatment regimens. (Phase I closed as of 10/14/02.)

  • Regimen A: Patients receive irinotecan IV over 60-90 minutes, leucovorin calcium IV, and fluorouracil IV over 10 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, and 22. Patients undergo hepatic embolization with embolic suspension only on day 36.
  • Regimen B: Patients receive chemotherapy as in regimen A. Patients undergo hepatic chemoembolization with lower-dose cisplatin, doxorubicin, and mitomycin on day 36.
  • Regimen C: Patients receive chemotherapy as in regimen A. Patients undergo hepatic chemoembolization with higher-dose cisplatin, doxorubicin, and mitomycin on day 36. After 1 week of rest, patients in all regimens receive a second 4-week course of systemic chemotherapy.

Cohorts of 3-10 patients are sequentially enrolled until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of chemotherapy and chemoembolization is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which at least 4 of 10 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity.

• Phase III: Patients are stratified according to liver volume involvement (less than 25% vs 25-50% vs more than 50% to less than 75%) and participating center. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

  • Arm I: Patients receive irinotecan IV over 60-90 minutes, leucovorin calcium IV, and fluorouracil IV over 10 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, and 22.

Courses repeat every 6 weeks in the absence of disease progression.

• Arm II: Patients receive chemotherapy as in arm I. Patients undergo hepatic chemoembolization with cisplatin, doxorubicin, and mitomycin on day 36. Chemotherapy repeats every 6 weeks in the absence of disease progression. Chemoembolization may repeat every 6 weeks for 2-4 courses as necessary.

Patients in phase III are followed every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 3 years, and then annually thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 9-18 patients will be accrued for phase I of this study. (Phase I closed to accrual as of 10/14/02.) Approximately 315 patients will be accrued for phase III of this study within 2.5 years.