DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed colorectal cancer with radiologically documented liver metastases Meet institutional criteria for exploratory laparotomy and/or resection of hepatic metastasis No CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC greater than 3,000/mm3 Platelet count greater than 150,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (transfusions and/or epoetin alfa allowed if stable without treatment for at least

1 week) Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT or SGPT no greater than 5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine less than 1.5 times ULN Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception No poor medical risks because of nonmalignant systemic disease No active uncontrolled infection No intractable vomiting (e.g., grade 2 or higher despite antiemetics) or any medical condition that could preclude taking oral medication and gastrointestinal absorption No AIDS related illness HIV negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for systemic disease At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas and mitomycin) and recovered No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent hormonal therapy, including oral contraceptives No concurrent systemic corticosteroids Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered No prior radiotherapy to greater than 30% of bone marrow Whole pelvic radiation alone is not exclusionary No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior surgery Other: At least 4 weeks since other prior investigational therapy and recovered No prior farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor