PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior murine monoclonal antibody therapy or cetuximab Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Recovered from any toxicities No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 2 months since prior radiotherapy and recovered No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics At least 1 month since prior surgery except diagnostic biopsy Other: At least 1 month since prior investigational agents