Erlotinib and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Erlotinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth. Combining erlotinib with combination chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells.
PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of combining erlotinib with oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and fluorouracil in treating patients who have metastatic colorectal cancer.