Oxaliplatin Plus Irinotecan in Treating Patients With Metastatic Gastrointestinal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed metastatic gastrointestinal carcinoma Measurable disease No CNS metastases No obstruction or partial obstruction of GI tract No obstruction of genitourinary tract PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,500/mm3 Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 125,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No uncontrolled high blood pressure, unstable angina, active congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction within prior 6 months, or serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia Neurological: No concurrent symptomatic peripheral sensory neuropathy Other: No active or uncontrolled infection Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior cisplatin, oxaliplatin, nitrosoureas, or mitomycin C 1 or 2 prior chemotherapy regimens allowed (including irinotecan) Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior radiation therapy to whole pelvis, 30% or greater of bone marrow, and site of measurable disease At least 4 weeks since prior radiation therapy and recovered Surgery: Not specified