Celecoxib, Leucovorin, Fluorouracil, and Oxaliplatin in Treating Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum * Metastatic disease * Inoperable disease (i.e., not suitable for complete carcinological surgical resection) * Measurable disease or nonmeasurable disease * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion at least 20 mm by conventional CT scan OR 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Nonmeasurable disease defined as all other lesions, including small lesions or truly nonmeasurable disease * No CNS metastases * No exclusive bone metastases * No symptomatic ascites or pleural effusion not evacuated before study entry PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 to 75 Performance status * WHO 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * No known significant bleeding disorder Hepatic * Alkaline phosphatase less than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Renal * Creatinine less than 1.5 times ULN OR * Creatinine clearance at least 30 mL/min * No uncontrolled hypercalcemia Cardiovascular * No congestive heart failure Gastrointestinal * No total or partial bowel obstruction * No active gastric or duodenal ulceration or gastrointestinal bleeding within the past year * No active inflammatory bowel disease Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * HIV negative * No peripheral sensory neuropathy * No known sensitivity to celecoxib, other COX-2 inhibitors, NSAIDs, salicylates, or sulfonamides * No AIDS-related illness * No active infection * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * No other severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No prior immunotherapy for metastatic disease Chemotherapy * Prior adjuvant chemotherapy allowed provided the progression-free interval after completion of therapy is more than 6 months in duration * No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease * No prior adjuvant oxaliplatin * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * No concurrent chronic oral or IV corticosteroid use (i.e., 2 weeks or longer in duration) Radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * Not specified Other * More than 30 days since prior investigational drugs * No other concurrent investigational drugs or treatments * No concurrent prophylactic fluconazole * No concurrent chronic full-dose aspirin (at least 325 mg/day), other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or other cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors * Concurrent low-dose (cardioprotective) aspirin (80 mg/day or equivalent) allowed * No concurrent lithium * No other concurrent anticancer therapy