Study of Tumor Tissue Testing in Selecting Treatment for Patients With Metastatic or Locally Advanced Colorectal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma meeting 1 of the following criteria: * Prior or recurrent primary adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum with clinical or radiological evidence of locally advanced or metastatic disease * Metastatic adenocarcinoma with clinical and/or radiological evidence of colorectal primary tumor * Inoperable metastatic or locoregional disease * Patients suitable for surgical resection of metastatic disease after response to first-line or adjuvant chemotherapy not allowed and should be considered for the New-EPOC trial study * Unidimensionally measurable disease (according to RECIST criteria) * Must have completed adjuvant chemotherapy with fluorouracil +/- leucovorin calcium (FU +/- LC), capecitabine, or oxaliplatin combinations in the past 6 months * QUASAR 2 patients who have continued bevacizumab for 6 months following completion of chemotherapy are allowed immediately after completion of bevacizumab * Rectal chemotherapy with FU +/- LC or capecitabine for allowed if completed ≥ 1 month ago * Single tumor block available * No brain metastasis PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * WHO performance status 0-2 * ANC ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.25 times ULN * AST or ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min OR GFR ≥ 30 mL/min * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients mu…