Bevacizumab, Oxaliplatin, and Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Unresectable or Metastatic Stomach or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma

Locally advanced unresectable or metastatic disease

Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10mm by spiral CT scan

Bone metastases, ascites, or pleural effusions are not considered measurable disease
Evaluable disease must be present outside previously irradiated field
No CNS or brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

18 and over

Performance status

SWOG 0-1

Life expectancy

Not specified

Hematopoietic

Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
Hemoglobin ≥ 10 mg/dL
No evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy

Hepatic

AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
Bilirubin ≤ ULN
INR < 1.5

Renal

Creatinine < 2.0 mg/dL
Urine protein:creatinine ratio < 1.0

Cardiovascular

No history of deep venous thrombosis requiring anticoagulation
No active angina
No myocardial infarction within the past year
No cerebrovascular accident within the past year
No uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure [BP] > 170 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP > 100 mm Hg) despite medical management

Other

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment
No peripheral neuropathy > grade 1
No history of allergy to any of the study drugs or drugs formulated with polysorbate 80
No known HIV infection
No active peptic ulcer disease
No serious non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
No unresolved bacterial infection requiring antibiotics
No other active malignancy within the past 3 years except for cancers that have been treated with a curative intent

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy

No prior chemotherapy for gastric cancer unless disease relapsed > 6 months after completion of non-taxane adjuvant chemotherapy
No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

Not specified

Radiotherapy

See Disease Characteristics
At least 3 weeks since radiotherapy

Surgery

At least 4 weeks since prior surgery or open biopsy (except indwelling venous catheter placement)
No concurrent surgery

Other

At least 4 weeks since prior and no concurrent participation in another experimental drug trial
No concurrent full-dose anticoagulation
No concurrent experimental drugs