Cetuximab and Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Advanced, Persistent, or Recurrent Cervical Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed squamous or non-squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix Advanced, persistent, or recurrent disease Documented disease progression Not amenable to curative therapy Measurable disease At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan At least 1 target lesion Tumors within a previously irradiated field are designated as non-target lesions unless progression is documented or a biopsy is obtained ≥ 90 days after completion of radiotherapy to confirm persistence PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status GOG 0-2 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 Hepatic Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST ≤ 2.5 times ULN Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN Renal Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular No significant history of cardiac disease within the past 6 months, including the following: Unstable angina Uncontrolled hypertension Uncontrolled congestive heart failure Uncontrolled arrhythmia Neurologic No uncontrolled seizure disorder No active neurological disease No neuropathy (sensory and motor) > grade 1 Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No active infection requiring antibiotics No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy No prior anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody therapy No prior chimerized or murine monoclonal antibody therapy Chemotherapy Not specified Endocrine therapy At least 1 week since prior anticancer hormonal therapy Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed Radiotherapy See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery More than 30 days since prior major surgery, except diagnostic biopsy Other Recovered from all prior therapy No prior cytotoxic therapy for cervical cancer No prior tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy that targets the EGFR pathway No prior cancer treatment that would contraindicate study therapy No other concurrent investigational agents