Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed colorectal carcinoma

Diagnosed by fine-needle aspirate or tissue biopsy
Metastatic disease
No squamous cell carcinoma

Relapsed or refractory after prior chemotherapy with irinotecan and a fluoropyrimidine (i.e., fluorouracil, capecitabine, or ftorafur with or without leucovorin calcium) given concurrently or sequentially

Progressive disease within 2 months of last dose of this prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease OR
Evidence of relapse within 12 months after last dose of adjuvant therapy
Bidimensionally measurable disease

Overexpression of epidermal growth factor r (EGFr) by immunohistochemistry

Must be 2+ or 3+ in at least 10% of evaluated tumor cells
No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

Not specified

Hematopoietic:

Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm3
Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
AST and ALT no greater than 3 times ULN
Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 2.2 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

LVEF at least 45% by MUGA
No myocardial infarction within the past year

Other:

HIV negative
No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell carcinoma or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
No chronic medical or psychiatric condition that would preclude study
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 1 month after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

No prior EGFr-targeting agents or biological agents with antitumor activity

Chemotherapy:

See Disease Characteristics
At least 30 days since prior systemic chemotherapy
No more than 2 prior fluoropyrimidine regimens (e.g., fluorouracil and leucovorin calcium followed by capecitabine)
No other prior chemotherapy, except leucovorin calcium, for colorectal carcinoma

Endocrine therapy:

Not specified

Radiotherapy:

At least 30 days since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

Not specified

Other:

At least 30 days since other prior anticancer therapy
No prior investigational drug with potential antitumor activity
No other concurrent investigational drugs