This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid when given together with fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin in treating patients with progressive metastatic or unresectable colorectal cancer or solid tumor. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid may also stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid when administered with fluorouracil, leucovorin calcium, and oxaliplatin in patients with progressive metastatic or unresectable colorectal cancer or other solid tumors.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine the toxicity of this regimen in these patients. II. Determine the pharmacokinetics of oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA).

Patients receive oral SAHA once or twice daily on days 1-3. Patients also receive oxaliplatin IV over 2 hours and leucovorin calcium IV over 2 hours on day 4 followed by fluorouracil IV over 46 hours on days 4-5. Courses repeat every 14 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of SAHA until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. A total of 10 patients are treated at the MTD.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed for 4 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically confirmed colorectal cancer
• Metastatic or unresectable disease OR diagnosis of solid tumor
• No known brain metastases
• ECOG 0-1 OR Karnofsky 70-100%
• Life expectancy > 12 weeks
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• Bilirubin normal
• AST and ALT ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal
• Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study participation
• No ongoing or active infection
• No neuropathy > grade 1
• No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to study drugs
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• No other uncontrolled illness
• Prior bevacizumab and/or cetuximab allowed
• No concurrent routine or prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF) or sargramostim (GM-CSF)
• More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)
• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• Recovered from prior therapy
• At least 2 weeks since prior valproic acid
• No concurrent combination anti-retroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy