Erlotinib in Treating Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma of the Lung

Inclusion Criteria

• •Histologically confirmed malignant pleural mesothelioma
• •* Epithelial
• •* Sarcomatous
• •* Biphasic
• •Measurable or nonmeasurable disease
• •Not amenable to extrapleural pneumonectomy
• •No known CNS metastases
• •Performance status - Zubrod 0-1
• •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 no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• •SGOT or SGPT no greater than 1.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver involvement of tumor)
• •Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN
• •No gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication or a requirement for IV alimentation
• •No active peptic ulcer disease
• •No intractable nausea or vomiting
• •Must be able to swallow and/or receive enteral medications via gastrostomy feeding tube
• •No known history of the following:
• •* Dry eye syndrome
• •* Sjogren's syndrome
• •* Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
• •* Exposure keratopathy
• •* Fuch's dystrophy
• •* Other active disorders of the cornea
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •No HIV-positive patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy
• •No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or stage I or II cancer that is in complete remission
• •No prior biologic therapy for this tumor
• •No prior chemotherapy for this tumor
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery (e.g., thoracotomy or laparotomy), excluding minor surgeries (e.g., mediastinoscopy, thoracoscopy, or minor biopsies)
• •Recovered from prior surgery
• •No prior surgical procedures affecting absorption
• •No prior investigational anticancer agents for this tumor