Combination Chemotherapy and Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced, Metastatic, or Recurrent Colorectal Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma

  * Not curable by surgery or amenable to radiotherapy with curative intent
  * Previously resected colorectal cancer with new evidence of metastasis does not require separate histologic or cytologic confirmation unless one of the following is true:

    * More than 5 years has elapsed between primary surgery and development of metastatic disease
    * Primary tumor was T1-T2, N0, M0
* Site of primary lesion must be or have been in the large bowel as determined by endoscopy, radiology, or surgery
* Measurable or evaluable disease
* No known brain or leptomeningeal disease
* Performance status - Zubrod 0-2
* No history of hemorrhagic or thrombotic disorders
* Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
* Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* SGOT no greater than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN for patients with liver involvement)
* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN for patients with liver involvement or 10 times ULN for patients with bone involvement)
* INR no greater than 1.5
* PTT no greater than ULN
* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
* Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min
* Proteinuria less than 1+\*
* Protein less than 500mg/24 hours\*
* No uncontrolled hypertension

  * Hypertension must be well-controlled (i.e., less than 160/90) and on a stable regimen of antihypertensive therapy
* No unstable angina
* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
* No serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia
* No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
* No symptomatic pulmonary fibrosis
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or adequately treated stage I or II cancer currently in complete remission
* No active or uncontrolled severe infection
* No contraindication to oral medications (e.g., severe dysphagia)

  * G-tubes or J-tubes allowed
* No peripheral neuropathy greater than grade 1
* No serious non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
* No significant traumatic injury within the past 28 days
* No other severe acute or chronic medical condition or laboratory abnormality that would preclude study participation
* No psychiatric condition that would preclude study participation
* No prior bevacizumab
* No prior oxaliplatin
* No prior chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer

  * Prior adjuvant therapy for resected stage II-III disease allowed provided at least 12 months have elapsed between completion of therapy and diagnosis of recurrent disease
* At least 28 days since prior radiotherapy and recovered
* See Disease Characteristics
* More than 28 days since prior major surgical procedure or open biopsy
* More than 7 days since prior fine needle aspiration or core biopsy
* No concurrent major surgery
* More than 10 days since prior full-dose aspirin (325 mg)
* No concurrent antiplatelet agents (e.g., dipyridamole, ticlopidine, clopidogrel, or cilostazol)
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation

  * Prophylactic anticoagulation of central venous lines allowed
  * Low-dose prophylactic enoxaparin or heparin allowed
* No concurrent cimetidine
* No concurrent sorivudine or its related analogs (e.g., brivudine)
* No concurrent use of a cold cap or iced mouth rinses