Erlotinib and Cetuximab With or Without Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Unresectable Kidney, Colorectal, Head and Neck, Pancreatic, or Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* One of the following histologically confirmed diagnoses:

  * Renal cell cancer

    * Clear cell histology
    * Metastatic or unresectable disease AND meets 1 of the following criteria:

      * Recurrent disease
      * Refractory to interleukin-2 (IL-2)- or interferon-based therapy
      * Previously untreated AND not a candidate for IL-2-based therapy
  * Colorectal, head and neck, pancreatic, or non-small cell lung cancer

    * Metastatic or unresectable disease
    * Progression after prior standard treatment
* No evidence of CNS disease, including the following (part 2 only):

  * Primary brain tumor
  * Brain metastases
* Paraffin embedded tumor blocks available
* Performance status - ECOG 0-2
* Performance status - Karnofsky 60-100%
* More than 12 weeks
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500 mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000 mm\^3
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
* AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver metastasis is present)
* PTT and INR ≤ 1.5, unless receiving full-dose warfarin (part 2 only)
* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
* Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
* Calcium \< 10 mg/dL (hypocalcemic agents allowed)
* No proteinuria\*
* Protein \< 1 g on 24-hour urine collection\*
* No unstable angina pectoris
* No cardiac arrhythmia
* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* None of the following are allowed for part 2:

  * Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
  * New York Heart Association class II-IV heart disease
  * Serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication
  * Peripheral vascular disease ≥ grade II
  * Recent history of cerebrovascular accident
  * Uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure ≥ 150/85 mm Hg despite medication)
  * Other clinically significant cardiovascular disease
* No gastrointestinal (GI) tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication
* No GI tract disease resulting in a requirement for IV alimentation
* No active peptic ulcer disease
* No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to study drugs
* No known hypersensitivity to Chinese hamster ovary cell products or other recombinant human antibodies (part 2 only)
* No ongoing or active infection
* No active infection requiring parenteral antibiotics (part 2 only)
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study treatment
* No significant traumatic injury within the past 28 days (part 2 only)
* No history of abnormalities of the cornea (e.g., dry eye syndrome, Sjögren's syndrome, or congenital abnormality \[e.g., Fuch's dystrophy\])
* No other malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the breast or cervix
* No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
* No serious or non-healing wound ulcer or bone fracture (part 2 only)
* No other uncontrolled illness
* See Disease Characteristics
* More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
* No prior cetuximab
* No prior bevacizumab
* Concurrent epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa allowed
* More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)
* More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* No prior surgical procedures affecting absorption
* Prior nephrectomy or resection of metastatic lesions allowed provided patient has fully recovered
* More than 7 days since prior core biopsy\*
* More than 28 days since prior major surgery or open biopsy\*
* No concurrent major surgery\*
* Recovered from all prior therapy
* No prior erlotinib
* Concurrent bisphosphonates allowed
* Concurrent full-dose anticoagulants allowed provided the following criteria are met (part 2 only):

  * In-range INR (usually between 2 and 3) AND on a stable dose of warfarin or low molecular weight heparin
  * No active bleeding
  * No pathological conditions that carry a high risk of bleeding (e.g., tumor involving major vessels or varices)
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* No other concurrent anticancer therapy