Cetuximab Plus Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced, Metastatic, or Recurrent Cancer of the Pancreas

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed locally advanced, metastatic, or recurrent adenocarcinoma of the pancreas that is not amenable to curative surgical resection Immunohistochemical evidence of EGFr expression of 1+ or greater Measurable disease No history of treated or active brain metastases or carcinomatous meningitis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 No unstable coagulation disorders Hepatic: AST/ALT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 5 times ULN Bilirubin no greater than 2 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No uncontrolled hypertension or arrhythmias No unstable congestive heart failure Neurologic: No uncontrolled seizure disorder No active neurological disease Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No concurrent unstable medical condition (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or active infections requiring systemic antibiotics, antivirals, or antifungals)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior murine monoclonal antibody therapy No prior cetuximab Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer Prior adjuvant chemotherapy following complete surgical resection allowed provided cancer recurrence was first documented more than 6 months after completion of treatment Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered No prior radiotherapy to only site of measurable disease unless documented disease progression since prior irradiation Surgery: Prior surgical resection allowed Other: At least 4 weeks since other prior investigational agents