Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the colon, meeting 1 of the following
stage criteria:

- Stage II disease (T3 or 4, N0, M0)

- Stage III disease (any T, N1 or 2, M0)

- No rectal tumors

- Distal extent of tumor ≥ 12 cm from the anal verge by endoscopy or surgical
examination

- T4 tumors involving an adjacent structure (e.g., bladder, small intestine, or ovary)
by direct extension from the primary tumor are eligible provided the following
criteria are met:

- All or a portion of the adjacent structure was removed en bloc with the primary
tumor

- All grossly visible tumor was completely resected (i.e., curative resection) in
the opinion of the surgeon

- Margins of the resected specimen not involved with malignant cells by pathology

- Not planning local radiotherapy

- En bloc complete gross resection of tumor by open laparotomy or
laparoscopically-assisted colectomy within the past 29-50 days

- Two-stage surgical procedure allowed (i.e., decompressive colostomy followed by
definitive surgical resection)

- Patients with > 1 synchronous primary colon tumor are eligible

- Disease staging based on more advanced primary tumor

- No isolated, distant, or non-contiguous intra-abdominal metastases, even if resected

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- 18 and over

Performance status

- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-1

Life expectancy

- At least 5 years

Hematopoietic

- Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 (unless it represents an ethnic or racial
variation of normal)

- Postoperative platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

- No significant bleeding unrelated to the primary colon tumor within the past 6 months

Hepatic

- Bilirubin ≤ upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless due to slow conjugation of bilirubin
caused by Gilbert's disease or a similar syndrome)

- Alkaline phosphatase < 2.5 times ULN

- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) < 1.5 times ULN

- If AST > normal, serologic testing for hepatitis B and C is required and the
results must be negative

- No Prothrombin Time and International Normalized Ratio (PT/INR) > 1.5 unless patient
is on full-dose anticoagulants AND the following criteria are met:

- INR 2-3 on a stable dose of warfarin

- No active bleeding

- No pathological condition associated with a high risk of bleeding

- No hepatic disease that would preclude study participation

- No history of viral hepatitis or other chronic liver disease

Renal

- Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN

- Urine protein/creatinine ratio < 1.0 OR

- < 1 g of protein on 24-hour urine collection

- No renal disease that would preclude study participation

Cardiovascular

- No uncontrolled blood pressure, defined as > 150/90 mm Hg

- No cardiovascular disease that would preclude study participation, including any of
the following:

- New York Heart Association class III or IV myocardial disease

- Myocardial infarction within the past 12 months

- Unstable angina within the past 12 months

- Symptomatic arrhythmia

- No history of transient ischemic attack or cerebrovascular accident

- No arterial thrombotic event within the past 12 months

- No symptomatic peripheral vascular disease

Other

- No other malignancy within the past 5 years except effectively treated squamous cell
or basal cell skin cancer, melanoma in situ, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or
carcinoma in situ of the colon or rectum

- Must be at low risk of recurrence from any prior malignancy

- No serious or non-healing wound, skin ulcer, or bone fracture

- No active gastroduodenal ulcer by endoscopy

- No clinically significant peripheral neuropathy (i.e., neurosensory or neuromotor
toxicity ≥ grade 2)

- No significant traumatic injury within the past 4 weeks

- No other nonmalignant systemic disease that would preclude study participation

- No psychiatric or addictive disorder or other condition that would preclude study
participation

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- Patients randomized to receive bevacizumab must use effective contraception
during and for 3 months after study treatment

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- No concurrent prophylactic growth factors

- No concurrent biological response modifiers

Chemotherapy

- Not specified

Endocrine therapy

- Not specified

Radiotherapy

- See Disease Characteristics

- No prior radiotherapy for this malignancy

- No concurrent radiotherapy for this malignancy

Surgery

- See Disease Characteristics

- Recovered from prior surgery

- More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery or open biopsy

- More than 7 days since prior core biopsy or other minor surgery (except placement of
a vascular access device)

- No concurrent or anticipated concurrent major surgery

Other

- No prior systemic therapy for this malignancy

- No concurrent halogenated antiviral agents (e.g., sorivudine)

- No other concurrent investigational drugs

- No other concurrent antineoplastic agents