Cetuximab and Combination Chemotherapy as First-Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed colorectal cancer * Metastatic, unresectable disease * May or may not express the EGFR gene * Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 measurable lesion by MRI or CT scan * Lesion must be outside an irradiated area PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * WHO performance status 0-1 * Life expectancy \> 3 months * ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Transaminases ≤ 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if hepatic metastases are present) * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No peripheral or symptomatic neuropathy ≥ grade 2 (NCI-CTCAE) * No complete or partial intestinal blockage * No intestinal inflammatory disease (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) * No chronic diarrhea * No severe unstable cardiac disease (despite treatment) * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No neurological or psychiatric illness, including epilepsy or dementia * No uncontrolled active infection * No other prior or concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except for curatively treated basal cell skin cancer * No psychological, familial, social, or geographic reason that would preclude study follow-up PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease * Prior fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy allowed provided it was administered ≥ 4 weeks ago * At le…