DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma

  • Primary site of disease in the large bowel as determined endoscopically, surgically, or radiologically

  • Histologic or cytologic confirmation is not required for recurrent metastatic disease in patients with prior colorectal cancer treated with surgery unless either of the following criteria are met:

    • More than 5 years have elapsed between the prior primary surgery and the development of metastatic disease
    • Primary cancer was stage I
• Tumor tissue available for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status analysis
• No pleural effusion or ascites that causes grade 2 or greater dyspnea
• No known CNS metastases or carcinomatous meningitis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL (transfusion allowed)
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
• AST ≤ 5.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Albumin ≥ 2.5 g/dL
• No evidence of Gilbert's syndrome

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular

• No unstable angina
• No congestive heart failure
• No prior myocardial infarction
• No prior stroke
• No other significant cardiac disease
• LVEF ≥ normal by echocardiogram or MUGA

Pulmonary

• No interstitial pneumonia or extensive and symptomatic interstitial fibrosis of the lung

Neurologic

• No uncontrolled seizure disorder
• No Temporarily closed neurological disease
• No symptomatic sensory peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or greater

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No predisposing uncontrolled colonic or small bowel disorder as evidenced by > 3 watery or soft stools daily at baseline*
• No known sensitivity to chimerized or murine antibodies, cetuximab or other EGFR inhibitors, or tyrosine kinase inhibitors
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix NOTE: *In patients without a colostomy or ileostomy; patients with a colostomy or ileostomy are eligible at the discretion of the investigator

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No prior biologic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer
• No prior chimerized or murine antibodies
• No prior cetuximab
• No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF) or sargramostim (GM-CSF)

Chemotherapy

• See Radiotherapy
• More than 12 months since prior chemotherapy
• No prior chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer
• No prior irinotecan or oxaliplatin in the adjuvant or metastatic setting
• No more than 6 months or 4 courses of prior adjuvant chemotherapy
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• No prior endocrine therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer

• No concurrent hormonal therapy except the following:

  • Steroids for adrenal failure
  • Hormones administered for non-disease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
  • Intermittent use of dexamethasone as an antiemetic

Radiotherapy

• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer
• No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of bone marrow
• Prior standard adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer allowed
• Prior adjuvant radiotherapy with radiosensitizing chemotherapy allowed
• No concurrent palliative radiotherapy except whole brain radiotherapy for documented CNS disease

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery*
• More than 2 weeks since prior minor surgery* and recovered
• No prior surgery for metastatic colorectal cancer NOTE: *Insertion of a vascular device is not considered major or minor surgery

Other

• At least 4 weeks since prior itraconazole or ketoconazole
• No other prior treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer
• No prior EGFR inhibitors
• No prior tyrosine kinase inhibitors
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No concurrent agents to minimize neurotoxicity of oxaliplatin (e.g., carbamazepine, magnesium, or calcium)