Gefitinib in Treating Patients With Recurrent Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically proven adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum
* Measurable disease
* Evidence of new or progressive metastatic disease within 6 months of last treatment
* Must have received prior systemic treatment with fluorouracil (and/or its analogs, with or without leucovorin calcium or levamisole) and irinotecan in the adjuvant or metastatic setting
* Metastatic tumor site accessible for biopsy
* No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* More than 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST or ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if tumor involvement of the liver)

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN OR
* Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

* No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* No unstable angina pectoris
* No cardiac arrhythmia

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No ongoing active or uncontrolled infections
* Other prior malignancies allowed provided prior therapy is discontinued and no evidence of disease
* No other uncontrolled illness or psychiatric illness/social situations that would preclude study
* Must be able to take and retain oral medications

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No prior signal transduction inhibitors (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor-, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-, and epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted agents) for colorectal cancer

Chemotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
* No other prior cytotoxic chemotherapy (e.g., oxaliplatin) for colorectal cancer

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

* Not specified

Other:

* No other prior systemic therapy for colorectal cancer
* No other prior investigational or approved agents for colorectal cancer
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients