Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of prostate cancer with rising PSA values without metastasis PSA must be at least 5 ng/mL PSA must show an increase above a reference level on 2 separate occasions Must have tumor over-expressing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) by immunohistochemistry Staining must be 2+ or 3+ in at least 10% of evaluated tumor cells Must have tissue available for diagnostics Must have failed prior front-line luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogue (e.g., leuprolide or goserelin) OR failed orchiectomy and have castrate levels of testosterone (less than 50 mg/mL) NOTE: Must continue on a LHRH analogue (unless an orchiectomy was performed) throughout the study PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN AST and ALT no greater than 3 times ULN Renal Creatinine less then 2.2 mg/dL Calcium no greater than ULN Cardiovascular Left ventricular ejection fraction at least 45% by MUGA No myocardial infarction within the past year Other HIV negative Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 1 month after study No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell carcinoma No history of chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that would preclude study participation, administration, or interpretation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy Not specified Endocrine therapy See Disease Characteristics At least 6 weeks since prior steroidal or nonsteroidal antiandrogens (4 weeks for flutamide) Concurrent steroid therapy allowed as replacement therapy only Radiotherapy Not specified Surgery See Disease Characteristics Other At least 30 days since prior investigational therapy At least 30 days since prior anticancer therapy No prior systemic therapy for prostate cancer (except hormonal therapy) No prior anti-EGFr therapy Concurrent antihypercalcemic treatment allowed in the presence of elevated calcium levels but not as cancer therapy for bone disease No other concurrent anti-EGFr therapy No other concurrent anticancer therapy No other concurrent investigational therapy