DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Pathologically confirmed peritoneal carcinomatosis or adenomucinosis secondary to colorectal or appendiceal cancer

  • Underwent cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (IPHC) within the past 12 weeks

    • Patients with residual disease or no evidence of disease after IPHC are eligible
• No extra-abdominal disease or parenchymal liver metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-3
• Free of infection or postoperative complications
• Hemoglobin > 8.0 g/dL
• Absolute neutrophil count > 1,000/mm³
• Platelet count > 100,000/mm³
• PTT or PT < 1.5 times normal (except in patients who are receiving therapeutic anticoagulant therapy for non-related medical conditions, such as atrial fibrillation)
• Bilirubin < 1.5 mg/dL OR direct bilirubin ≤ 1.0 mg/dL (for patients with Gilbert's syndrome)
• AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times normal
• Serum creatinine < 2.0 mg/dL
• No peripheral neuropathy > grade 1, except localized neuropathy due to a mechanical cause or trauma
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use 2 effective methods of contraception for 4 months prior to, during, and for 4 months after treatment with thalidomide
• No history of hepatic cirrhosis
• No history of severe hypothyroidism
• No history of medical problem such as severe congestive heart failure or active ischemic heart disease
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No known history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy, biologic therapy, or radiotherapy (except for IPHC)
• No other concurrent systemic therapy
• No concurrent high level sedatives
• No concurrent sedating "recreational" drugs or alcohol