Monoclonal Antibody ABX-EGF in Treating Patients With Renal (Kidney), Prostate, Pancreatic, Non-Small Cell Lung, Colon or Rectal, Esophageal, or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following: * Renal cell cancer (RCC) * Prior nephrectomy required * Prostate cancer * Failed prior primary therapy (e.g., surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy) * Failed prior hormonal therapy (e.g., antiandrogen, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone inhibitor, or orchiectomy) * Pancreatic cancer * Failed at least 1 prior standard therapy regimen for unresectable metastatic disease * Non-small cell lung cancer * Failed at least 1 prior standard therapy regimen for unresectable metastatic disease * Colorectal cancer * Received 1 or more prior chemotherapy regimen(s) for advanced metastatic disease * Esophageal cancer * Failed prior primary therapy (e.g., surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy) * Gastroesophageal junction cancer * Evaluable disease * Epidermal growth factor receptor overexpression * Tumor tissue must yield the sum of 1+, 2+, or 3+ staining in at least 10% of evaluated tumor cells * No uncontrolled brain metastases * No evidence of disease progression or regression after a 30-day washout period PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Karnofsky 70-100% OR * ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * AST/ALT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (3 times ULN for liver metastases) * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN (3 times ULN for liver metastases) Renal: * Creatinine less than 2.2 mg/dL * NCI renal toxicity no greater than grade 2 * No hypercalcemia (antihypercalcemic therapy allowed) Cardiovascular: * Ejection fraction at least 45% by MUGA * No abnormal ECG or MUGA * No myocardial infarction within the past year Pulmonary: * No abnormal chest x-ray * FEV\_1 greater than 50% of predicted Other: * No known allergy to ingredients of study drug * No known allergy to Staphylococcus aureus Protein A * HIV negative * No chronic medical or psychiatric condition that would preclude study compliance * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 30 days since prior biologic therapy (e.g., antibodies, cytokines, or co-stimulatory pathway inhibitors) * No other concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 6 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered * No prior chemotherapy for RCC * No prior anthracyclines * No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * See Disease Characteristics * Concurrent steroids allowed * Concurrent hormonal therapy allowed Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior mediastinal radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from any recent prior surgery Other: * At least 30 days since prior investigational drug or device * At least 30 days since prior systemic therapy * No other concurrent investigational drugs * No other concurrent systemic agents or cancer therapy