Isolated Hepatic Perfusion With Melphalan Followed by Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Unresectable Liver Metastases From Colorectal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed colorectal cancer * Metastatic disease limited to the parenchyma of the liver * No evidence of unresectable extrahepatic disease by preoperative radiology * Limited extra-hepatic disease and dominant life-limiting liver disease allowed provided extra-hepatic sites are treatable by local ablative measures (e.g., surgical resection or external beam radiotherapy) * At least 40% hepatic replacement by tumor by axial CT scan or MRI * Unresectable liver metastases, defined by 1 of the following: * More than 3 sites of disease in the liver * Bilobar disease * Tumor abutting major vascular or ductal structures * Measurable disease * Previously untreated disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Hematocrit \> 27.0% * WBC \> 3,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin \< 2.0 mg/dL * PT \< 2 seconds above upper limit of normal * Elevated transaminase levels allowed if due to liver metastases * No cirrhosis by biopsy * No significant portal hypertension as manifested by any of the following: * Ascites * Esophageal varices by endoscopy * Significant collateral vessels around the organs drained by the portal venous system by radiography * No chronic active hepatitis * Hepatitis B and C surface antigen negative * No history of veno-occlusive disease Renal * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min Cardiovascular * No ischemic cardiac disease * No history of congestive heart failure * LVEF \> 40% by echocardiogram or stress thallium scan (for patients with cardiac disease) Pulmonary * No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other chronic pulmonary disease * Pulmonary function tests ≥ 50% of predicted (for patients with pulmonary disease) Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Weight \> 30 kg * No active infection * No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * Prior adjuvant chemotherapy (including leucovorin calcium, oxaliplatin, and fluorouracil) allowed provided it was administered \> 6 months before liver metastases were diagnosed Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy for this malignancy and recovered Surgery * Not specified Other * No concurrent chronic anticoagulation therapy * No concurrent immunosuppressive drugs