Inclusion Criteria

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)