Combination Chemotherapy and Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer With Liver Metastases or Lung Metastases That Are Potentially Removable by Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

* Histologically confirmed metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma
* Bidimensionally measurable metastatic disease limited to the liver and considered curatively resectable after response to systemic therapy as assessed by a surgical board

  * Additional metastatic disease to the lungs consisting of no more than 3 potentially resectable lesions allowed
  * Must have at least one lesion of 30 mm or less

Exclusion criteria:

* History or evidence upon physical examination of CNS disease unless adequately treated (e.g., uncontrolled seizure with standard medical therapy or history of stroke)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

* Performance status ≤ 1
* Life expectancy \> 12 weeks
* WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
* Creatinine 1.25 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Bilirubin 1.25 x ULN (1.5 x ULN if liver metastasis)
* AST and ALT ≤ 3 x ULN (≤ 5 x ULN if liver metastasis)
* Woman and men of childbearing age must use adequate contraception

Exclusion criteria:

* Pregnancy (positive serum pregnancy test) or lactation
* Chronic diarrhea ≥ grade 2
* Other serious illness or medical condition including any of the following:

  * Unstable cardiac disease requiring treatment
  * Congestive heart failure or angina pectoris even if medically controlled
  * Significant arrhythmias
  * History of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorders including psychotic disorders, dementia, or seizures that would prohibit the understanding and giving of informed consent
  * Active uncontrolled infection
  * Severe hypercalcemia
  * Other serious underlying medical condition that could impair the ability of the patient to participate in the study
  * Neuropathy \> grade 1 of any etiology
* Known DPD deficiency
* Known severe polyneuropathy
* Known allergy to Chinese hamster ovary cell proteins, other recombinant human or humanized antibodies, any excipients of bevacizumab formulation, or any other study drugs
* Chronic inflammatory bowel disease
* Acute or subacute intestinal occlusion
* History of previous arterial thromboembolism
* Uncontrolled hypertension
* Evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy
* Serious nonhealing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
* History of tumor other than basocellular carcinoma of the skin
* Peripheral neuropathy \> grade 1 of any origin (e.g., alcohol)
* Significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to study treatment

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Exclusion criteria:

* No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease

  * Prior adjuvant chemotherapy permitted if interval since last treatment administration and recurrence is \> 6 months
* Major surgical procedure or open biopsy within 28 days prior to study treatment or anticipation of the need for major surgical procedure during the course of the study
* Treatment in a clinical trial within 30 days prior to study entry
* Concurrent treatment with other experimental drugs or other anticancer therapy
* Current or recent use (within 10 days prior to study treatment) of full-dose oral or parenteral anticoagulants for therapeutic purposes
* Chronic daily treatment with aspirin (\> 325 mg/day)