Erlotinib and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed colon or rectal cancer

  * Metastatic or unresectable disease
* Unidimensionally measurable disease required for phase II only

  * At least 20 mm by x-ray, CT scan, MRI, or photography
  * The following are not considered measurable:

    * Pleural effusion or ascites
    * Osteoblastic lesions
    * 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)
  * Recurrent disease after surgery or radiotherapy is considered measurable as long as the following criteria are met:

    * At least 4 weeks since prior surgery or radiotherapy
    * Measurable disease exists outside the radiation port or clear progression exists within the radiation port
* Tissue accessible for immunohistochemical evidence of epidermal growth factor receptor expression from a metastatic site (phase II only)
* No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* 18 and over

Performance status

* ECOG 0-2 OR
* Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy

* More than 3 months

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 normal
* AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal

* Creatinine normal OR
* Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular

* No unstable angina pectoris
* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* No cardiac arrhythmia
* No uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure greater than 150 mm Hg)

Opthalmic

* No abnormalities of the cornea (e.g., severe dry eye syndrome or Sjogren's syndrome)
* No congenital abnormality (e.g., Fuch's dystrophy)
* No abnormal slit-lamp examination using vital dye (e.g., fluorescein or Bengal-Rose)
* No abnormal corneal sensitivity test (e.g., Schirmer test or similar tear-production test)
* Mild dry eye syndrome allowed if patient can use artificial tears and ophthalmologist concurs

Gastrointestinal

* No gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication or a requirement for IV alimentation
* No active peptic ulcer disease

Other

* Must be able and willing to undergo a mediport insertion
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No other malignancy within the past 5 years except previously excised and inactive basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
* No prior allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to erlotinib or other study drugs (e.g., epidermal growth factor inhibitors like cetuximab)
* No significant traumatic injury within the past 3 weeks
* No peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or greater
* No ongoing or active infection
* No other uncontrolled concurrent illness that would preclude study entry
* No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* Not specified

Chemotherapy

* More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered
* Phase I:

  * Prior chemotherapy allowed
* Phase II:

  * No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease
  * Prior adjuvant therapy allowed if disease progresses during adjuvant therapy
  * No prior oxaliplatin

Endocrine therapy

* Not specified

Radiotherapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery

* See Disease Characteristics
* More than 3 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered
* No prior surgical procedures affecting absorption

Other

* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies (commercial or investigational)
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients