Gefitinib and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Advanced or Recurrent Colorectal Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed advanced (stage IV) or recurrent adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum * Must have available tissue for immunohistochemical analysis * At least one unidimensionally measurable lesion * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Tumor marker (carcinoembryonic antigen) elevation alone is insufficient for study entry * No known brain metastases * Performance status - ECOG 0-2 * Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST less than 2 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver involvement of tumor) * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * HIV negative * No other severe or uncontrolled concurrent illness that would adversely impact the safety or efficacy of study therapy * No ongoing or active infection * No other prior malignancy unless curatively treated and no evidence of recurrence * No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to gefitinib * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No prior chemotherapy for advanced disease * More than 4 weeks since other prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * At least 6 months since prior adjuvant therapy * No prior epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No concurrent phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, rifampin, rifapentine, oxacarbazepine, modafinil, griseofulvin, or Hypericum perforatum