Erlotinib Plus Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced, Metastatic, or Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck meeting 1 of the following staging criteria:

  * Recurrent
  * Metastatic
  * Locally advanced and determined to be incurable by surgery or radiotherapy
* Measurable disease
* No known brain metastases
* Performance status - ECOG 0-2
* Performance status - Karnofsky 60-100%
* WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* Bilirubin normal
* AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal
* Creatinine normal
* Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* No unstable angina pectoris
* No cardiac arrhythmia
* No severe pulmonary insufficiency, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, requiring oxygen (O2 saturation less than 90%) and/or increase in PaCO2 blood gas level greater than 50 mm Hg
* No history of abnormality 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 (Schirmer test or similar tear production test)
* Able to take oral medication
* No requirement for IV alimentation
* No active peptic ulcer disease
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No significant traumatic injury within the past 21 days
* No prior allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to study drugs
* No grade 2 or greater persistent peripheral neuropathy
* No other concurrent uncontrolled illness that would preclude study participation
* No ongoing or active infection
* No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
* No prior immunotherapy for head and neck cancer
* No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen in the adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting
* No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease
* No prior docetaxel (phase II only)
* More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered
* No prior hormonal therapy for head and neck cancer
* Prior external beam radiotherapy allowed
* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
* More than 21 days since prior major surgery
* No prior surgery affecting gastrointestinal absorption
* No prior epidermal growth factor receptor-targeting therapy
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No other concurrent anticancer therapies or agents
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients