Erlotinib in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced and/or Metastatic Endometrial Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed metastatic and/or locally advanced adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma of the endometrium

  * Incurable by standard therapies
* Clinically and/or radiologically documented disease with at least 1 unidimensionally measurable site

  * At least 20 mm by x-ray, physical exam, or CT scan OR
  * At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  * Bone metastases considered nonmeasurable
* Tumor tissue from primary tumor available for assessing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status
* No uterine sarcomas (leiomyosarcoma), mixed mullerian tumors, and/or adenosarcomas
* No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
* Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* No unstable angina
* No cardiac arrhythmia

Gastrointestinal:

* No gastrointestinal (GI) tract disease that would preclude ability to take oral medication
* No requirement for IV alimentation
* No uncontrolled inflammatory GI disease (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
* No active peptic ulcer disease

Ophthalmic:

* No significant ophthalmologic abnormalities, including any of the following:

  * Prior severe dry eye syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome, or keratoconjunctivitis sicca
  * Severe-exposure keratopathy
  * Disorders that would increase the risk of epithelium-related complications (e.g., bullous keratopathy, aniridia, severe chemical burns, or neutrophilic keratitis)
  * Congenital abnormality (e.g., Fuch's dystrophy)
  * Abnormal slit-lamp examination using a vital dye (e.g., fluorescein or Bengal-Rose)
  * Abnormal corneal sensitivity test (e.g., Schirmer test or similar tear production test)
* No concurrent ocular inflammation or infection

Other:

* No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix
* No prior allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar biological or chemical composition to erlotinib
* No other concurrent serious illness or medical condition that would preclude study
* No prior significant neurologic or psychiatric disorder that would preclude study
* No active uncontrolled infection
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Not specified

Chemotherapy:

* No prior chemotherapy for endometrial cancer

Endocrine therapy:

* No more than 1 prior hormonal therapy (progestational agent or aromatase inhibitor) in the adjuvant or metastatic setting
* At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (except for low-dose palliative radiotherapy) and recovered

Surgery:

* At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered
* No prior surgical procedures affecting absorption
* No concurrent ophthalmic surgery

Other:

* No prior EGFR-targeting therapies
* No other concurrent investigational therapy
* No other concurrent anticancer therapy
* Concurrent oral anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) allowed provided there is increased vigilance with respect to monitoring INR
* Concurrent low molecular weight heparin allowed at investigator's discretion