Erlotinib, Modified FOLFOX6, and Bevacizumab as First-Line Therapy Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed colorectal cancer Biopsy-accessible metastatic disease Measurable disease No CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy At least 3 months Hematopoietic WBC ≥ 4,000/mm^3 OR Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL No bleeding disorder Hepatic Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL Albumin ≥ 2.5 g/dL Renal Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL Urine protein:creatine ratio < 1.0 Cardiovascular Blood pressure ≤ 150/100 mmHg No arterial thrombotic event within the past 6 months No New York Heart Association grade II-IV congestive heart failure Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 1 month after completion of study treatment No other malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other malignancy with < 10% chance of relapse within 3 years No uncontrolled infection No severe uncontrolled illness that would preclude study participation No peripheral neuropathy interfering with function No abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 6 months No serious non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy No concurrent immunotherapy No concurrent sargramostim (GM-CSF) Chemotherapy No prior chemotherapy, including oxaliplatin, for metastatic disease Prior adjuvant oxaliplatin allowed provided disease progressed > 12 months after completion of oxaliplatin At least 3 weeks since prior cytotoxic chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) No more than 2 courses of prior mitomycin No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy Radiotherapy At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy No prior radiotherapy to > 15% of bone marrow No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery At least 1 week since prior minor surgery Other Recovered from prior therapy No prior epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor therapy No other concurrent antineoplastic or antitumor therapy No other concurrent investigational agents