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