Inclusion Criteria:

- Histologically or cytologically proven adenocarcinoma of the colon or the rectum

- age > 18 years

- WHO performance status : 0,1,2

- Signed written informed consent prior to study entry

- Disease stage : metastatic disease not amenable to potentially curative treatment (eg
: inoperable metastatic disease)

- Measurable disease

- No prior chemotherapeutic regimen for metastatic disease ; prior adjuvant
chemotherapy allowed (disease free interval from end of adjuvant therapy of at least
6 months)

- Prior radiotherapy permitted, if completed at least 3 weeks before randomization, and
if not administered to target lesions identified for the study

Exclusion Criteria:

- Chemotherapeutic agents other than 5-FU/LV or 5-FU/Levamizole as part of adjuvant
therapy

- Prior therapy with Oxaliplatin

- History of cardiac toxicities under 5-FU/LV therapy or myocardial infarction within
the 6 months before study entry ; Known Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase deficiency

- History of intolerance to appropriate antiemetics

- Concurrent active cancer originating from a primary site other than colon or rectum

- Presence of any symptom suggesting brain metastasis

- Known peripheral neuropathy

- Interstitial pneumonia or extensive and symptomatic fibrosis of the lung

- Allergy to Xaliproden/excipients