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