RATIONALE: Erlotinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for their growth. Monoclonal antibodies, such as bevacizumab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Bevacizumab may also stop the growth of colorectal cancer by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining erlotinib and bevacizumab with combination chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of erlotinib when given together with bevacizumab, fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin in treating patients with metastatic or locally advanced colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Determine the maximum tolerated dose of erlotinib in combination with bevacizumab and fluorouracil, leucovorin calcium, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX-4) in patients with metastatic or locally advanced colorectal cancer.
• Determine the toxicity profile of this regimen in these patients.
• Determine the antitumor activity of this regimen in these patients.

Secondary

• Determine the pharmacokinetics of this regimen in these patients.
• Correlate expression and activation of epidermal growth factor receptor and related signaling pathways with outcome of patients treated with this regimen.
• Determine the biological effects of erlotinib in these patients and its relationship with dose and plasma concentration.
• Determine whether fludeoxyglucose F 18 positron emission tomography scan can predict the biological effects in and outcome of patients treated with this regimen.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of erlotinib.

Patients receive oral elotinib alone once daily for 1 week before the beginning of course 1. Patients then receive oral erlotinib once daily on days 1-28; oxaliplatin IV over 2 hours on day 1; and leucovorin calcium IV over 2 hours and fluorouracil IV over 22 hours on days 1 and 2. Patients also receive bevacizumab IV over 30-90 minutes on day 15 of course 1 and on days 1 and 15 of all subsequent courses. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of erlotinib until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose at which no more than 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 38 patients will be accrued for this study within 19-38 months.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma

  • Metastatic or locally advanced
• Not amenable to curative therapy

• Unidimensionally measurable disease

  • At least 1 lesion at least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan

  • The following are not considered measurable disease:

    • Bone lesions
    • Leptomeningeal disease
    • Ascites
    • Pleural/pericardial effusion
    • Inflammatory breast disease
    • Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis
    • Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
    • Cystic lesions
• No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-1 OR
• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy

• More than 12 weeks

Hematopoietic

• WBC at least 3,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin no greater than 2 mg/dL
• AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver metastasis is present)

Renal

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
• No nephrotic syndrome

Cardiovascular

• No congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia
• No uncontrolled hypertension

• None of the following thromboembolic events within the past 12 months:

  • Myocardial infarction
  • Transient ischemic attack
  • Stroke
  • Angina

Gastrointestinal

• No gastrointestinal disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication
• No requirement for intravenous alimentation
• No active peptic ulcer disease

Ophthalmic

• No abnormalities of the cornea (e.g., dry eye syndrome or Sjögren's syndrome)
• No abnormal slit-lamp examination using a vital dye (e.g., fluorescein or Bengal-Rose)
• No congenital abnormality (e.g., Fuch's dystrophy)
• No abnormal corneal sensitivity test (Schirmer test or similar tear production test)

Other

• Not pregnant
• No nursing during and for at least 3-4 months after study participation
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 3-4 months after study participation
• Sufficient central venous access
• No significant traumatic injury within the past 28 days
• No prior allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to erlotinib, fluorouracil, leucovorin calcium, or oxaliplatin
• No significant neuropathy greater than grade 2
• No ongoing or active infection
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• No other concurrent uncontrolled illness that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Prior bevacizumab allowed

Chemotherapy

• At least 28 days since prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease
• At least 120 days since prior adjuvant chemotherapy, including adjuvant therapy with oxaliplatin
• No prior oxaliplatin for metastatic disease

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• Not specified

Surgery

• More than 28 days since prior major surgery and recovered
• No prior surgical procedures affecting absorption

Other

• No prior epidermal growth factor receptor-targeting therapy
• No concurrent phenytoin
• No concurrent carbamazepine
• No concurrent rifampin
• No concurrent phenobarbital
• No concurrent Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies intended to treat the malignancy