Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed advanced colorectal cancer
* Disease progression while receiving an irinotecan-containing regimen for metastatic colorectal cancer OR
* Disease recurrence within 6 months after completing an irinotecan-containing regimen in the adjuvant setting
* At least 1 measurable lesion (for phase II only)

  * At least 20 mm by x-ray, CT scan, MRI, or photograph
  * Recurrent disease after surgery or radiotherapy is considered measurable if it has been at least 4 weeks since treatment and measurable disease is outside the port of prior radiotherapy or there is evidence of disease progression within the port of prior radiotherapy
  * The following are not considered measurable:

    * Pleural effusion
    * Ascites
    * Osteoblastic lesion or evidence of disease on bone scan alone
    * Progressive irradiated lesions alone
    * Bone marrow involvement
    * Brain metastases
    * Malignant hepatomegaly by physical exam alone
    * Chemical markers (e.g., carcinoembryonic antigen)
* No known brain metastases or primary brain tumors
* No symptomatic pleural effusion or ascites requiring paracentesis
* No clinical evidence of bowel obstruction

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin greater than 10.0 g/dL

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
* AST/ALT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* PT/PTT less than ULN OR
* INR less than 1.12
* No hepatitis virus infection

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
* Creatinine clearance greater than 50 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

* No prior myocardial infarction
* No angina
* No uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure greater than 150 mm Hg)
* No prior cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack

Pulmonary:

* No respiratory insufficiency requiring oxygen treatment
* No lymphangitic involvement of lungs

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception for 30 days before, during, and for 30 days after study
* Thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone normal
* No hematemesis, melena, hematochezia, or gross hematuria
* No prior significant adverse reaction to a humanized monoclonal antibody
* No known HIV infection
* No active infection requiring systemic anti-infective therapy
* No other medical or psychological condition or behavior, including substance dependence or abuse, that would preclude study
* No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell skin cancer or completely excised carcinoma in situ of the cervix

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Prior immunotherapy with approved agents allowed
* No prior monoclonal antibody anti-anb3 integrin or its precursor (MEDI-523)
* No other concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
* No concurrent palliative chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* No concurrent hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior surgery and surgical wounds must have healed

Other:

* Recovered from all prior therapy
* At least 4 weeks since prior investigational agents