Icotinib Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancers

Inclusion Criteria:

* Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of =\< 2
* Histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced, inoperable or metastatic solid tumor
* Have received at least one standard therapy for metastatic disease or have a disease in which no standard therapies exist
* Platelet count \>= 100 x 10\^9/L
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1.5 x 10\^9/L
* Hemoglobin (Hgb) \>= 9 gm/dL
* Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) =\< 3 x ULN (=\< 5 x ULN if liver metastasis is present)
* Creatinine clearance \>= 40 mL/min; use the Cockroft and Gault formula
* QTcB is \< 480 msec
* International normalized ratio (INR) =\< 1.5
* Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) =\< 1.5 x ULN if not on anticoagulants; patients who are receiving therapeutic anticoagulation with heparin are allowed to participate provided that no prior evidence of underlying abnormality exists in these parameters; patients on warfarin should have stable doses with INR between 2-3 in the 2 months prior to study registration
* Have measurable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 criteria present
* Demonstrate the ability to swallow and retain oral medication
* Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test performed within 7 days prior to the start of study drug
* Male and female subjects of child-bearing potential must agree to use double-barrier contraceptive measures, oral contraception, or avoidance of intercourse during the study and for 90 days after last investigational drug dose received
* Subject or legal representative must understand the investigational nature of this study and sign an Independent Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board approved written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure
* Written informed consent granted prior to initiation of any study-specific screening procedures, given with the understanding that the patient has the right to withdraw from the study at any time, without prejudice

Exclusion Criteria:

* Previous anti-cancer chemotherapy, immunotherapy or investigational agents =\< 4 weeks prior to the first day of study defined treatment; palliative radiation =\< 2 weeks; patients who receive gamma knife radiosurgery for brain metastases are eligible if procedure was performed \>= 7 days before treatment is started; ongoing hormonal therapies (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone \[LHRH\] antagonists, megestrol, octreotide, calcitonin, etc.) are allowed
* History of cardiac disease: congestive heart failure defined as class II to class IV per New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification; active coronary artery disease (CAD); previously diagnosed bradycardia or other cardiac arrhythmia defined as \>= grade 2 according to National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) (version 4.0), or uncontrolled hypertension; myocardial infarction occurred within 6 months prior to study entry (myocardial infarction occurred \> 6 months prior to study entry is permitted)
* Active clinically serious infections defined as \>= grade 2 according to NCI CTCAE version 4.0
* Substance abuse, medical, psychological or social conditions that may, in the opinion of the investigator, interfere with the patient's participation in the study or evaluation of the study results
* Any condition that is unstable or which could jeopardize the safety of the patient and his/her protocol compliance
* Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
* Pregnancy or breast-feeding
* Significant gastrointestinal disorder, in the opinion of the investigator, could interfere with the absorption of icotinib (e.g., significant, uncontrolled inflammatory bowel disease, history of abdominal fistula or gastrointestinal \[GI\] perforation within 6 months, extensive small bowel resection and requirement for tube feeding or parenteral hydration/nutrition)
* Concomitant use of strong inhibitors or inducers of cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) and CYP3A4 should be avoided
* Untreated, symptomatic or unstable brain metastases
* Major surgery \< 4 weeks or minor surgery (e.g., talc pleurodesis, excisional biopsy, etc) \< 2 weeks prior to the first day of study defined treatment
* Unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements
* Any condition which in the investigator's opinion deems the subject an unsuitable candidate to receive study drug