Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed malignancy that overexpresses epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) * Unresectable disease for which there is no known standard therapy that ispotentially curative or definitely capable of extending life expectancy * UGT1A1 genotype 6/6, 6/7, or 7/7 * Willing to provide biologic specimens * Lesions amenable for 2 biopsies from the same tumor site (only patients receiving MTD in groups 2 and 3) * No known brain metastases * Performance status - ECOG 0-2 * At least 12 weeks * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST ≤ 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases present) * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease * No gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral or nasogastric medication * No requirement for IV alimentation * No active peptic ulcer disease * No abnormalities of the cornea (e.g., dry eye syndrome or Sjögren's syndrome) * No congenital abnormality (e.g., Fuch's dystrophy) * No abnormal slit-lamp examination using a vital dye (e.g., fluorescein or Bengal-Rose) * No abnormal corneal sensitivity test (e.g., Schirmer test or similar tear production test) * No other uncontrolled concurrent illness * No ongoing or active infection * No significant traumatic injury within the past 21 days * No seizure disorder * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No concurrent grapefruit or grapefruit juice * No smoking during study * More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy or biologic therapy * No concurrent immunotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered * No other concurrent chemotherapy * Not specified * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of bone marrow * No concurrent radiotherapy * More than 3 weeks since prior major surgery * No prior surgical procedures affecting absorption * No prior EGFR-targeting therapy (e.g., gefitinib or EKB-569) * No other concurrent investigational therapy * No concurrent enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants (e.g., phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, or valproic acid) * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No concurrent enrollment on another study involving pharmacological agents for symptom control or therapeutic intent