• Progression-free survival [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

• Response rate before surgery as assessed by RECIST criteria [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• Pathological resection status [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• Overall survival [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• Toxicity [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  
• Quality of life as assessed by the EQ-5D, EORTC QLQ-C30, and EORTC QLQ-LMC21 [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• Cost effectiveness [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• Safety [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically* or radiologically confirmed primary adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum

  • Advanced and/or metastatic disease NOTE: *Liver metastases should not be biopsied

• Must have potentially resectable liver metastases present, as defined by any of the following:

  • Metachronous metastases AND complete resection of the primary tumor without gross or microscopic evidence of residual disease (R0)
  • Synchronous metastases AND R0 resection of the primary tumor > 1 month before study entry
  • Synchronous metastases with sufficient evidence (e.g., by CT scan or diagnostic laparoscopy) that both the primary tumor and the liver metastases can be completely resected during the same procedure and resection of primary tumor can be delayed for 3-4 months
  • Suboptimally resectable disease (i.e., potentially resectable disease with compromise of the resection margins)
• No detectable extrahepatic tumor that cannot be completely resected
• Unidimensionally measurable disease
• No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• WHO performance status 0-2
• WBC ≥ 4,000/mm³
• ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count > 150,000/mm³
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 5 times ULN
• AST or ALT ≤ 3 times ULN
• Creatinine clearance > 50 mL/min OR glomerular filtration rate > 50 mL/min
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 3 months after completion of study treatment
• No psychiatric or neurological condition that would preclude study compliance
• No partial or complete bowel obstruction
• No preexisting neuropathy > grade 1
• No other prior or concurrent malignant disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude study treatment
• No concurrent severe uncontrolled medical illness (including poorly-controlled angina or myocardial infarction within the past 3 months) that would preclude study treatment
• No known hypersensitivity reaction to any of the components of the study drugs

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No prior systemic chemotherapy for metastatic disease
• More than 6 months since prior adjuvant chemotherapy comprising fluorouracil, leucovorin calcium, capecitabine, or irinotecan hydrochloride
• More than 1 month since prior rectal chemoradiotherapy comprising fluorouracil and leucovorin calcium
• No concurrent contraindicated medication