ZD 1839 Plus Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced, Locally Recurrent, or Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of ZD 1839 combined with irinotecan, leucovorin, and fluorouracil in treating patients who have locally advanced, locally recurrent, or metastatic colorectal cancer. Biological therapies such as ZD 1839 may interfere with the growth of tumor cells and slow the growth of the tumor. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining ZD 1839 with combination chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells.