OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to participating center, prior adjuvant chemotherapy (yes vs no), plasma CEA level in ng/mL at diagnosis of liver metastases (5 or less vs 6 to 30 vs 31 or greater), serosa extension of primary cancer (absent T1 or T2 vs present T3 or T4), lymphatic spread of primary cancer (absent vs present N+), time interval between diagnosis of primary tumor to metastases (2 years or more vs fewer than 2 years), and number of metastases (1 to 3 vs 4). Patients are randomized to one of two treatment arms.