Inclusion Criteria

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

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Eastern Cooperative Oncology
Group (ECOG) 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: white blood count (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