Gefitinib in Treating Patients With Cervical Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial cancer or cervical cancer (open to accrual for cervical cancer patients only as of 4/5/2005)
• * Relapsed or refractory
• The following are also eligible: (open to accrual for cervical cancer patients only as of 4/5/2005)
• * Cancer of the fallopian tube
• * Primary peritoneal cancer
• * Cancer with low malignant potential and an invasive recurrence
• Block or recuts of primary tumor or recent resection specimen of a metastatic site required
• Measurable disease with a sentinel lesion adequate for core biopsy by percutaneous biopsy or laparoscopy
• No CNS involvement
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• WBC greater than 3,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL
• AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Renal
• Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No unstable dysrhythmia within the past 6 months
• Other
• No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except noninvasive nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No active ocular inflammation or infection
• No active infection
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• No prior cetuximab or monoclonal antibody ABX-EGF
• Chemotherapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered
• Endocrine therapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy and recovered
• No concurrent tamoxifen
• Radiotherapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• Surgery
• Recovered from prior oncologic or other major surgery
• Other
• No prior epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitory agents (e.g., OSI-774)
• No concurrent antiretroviral therapy
• No concurrent itraconozole, ketoconazole, erythromycin, verapamil, chlorpromazine, amiodarone, or chloroquine
• No concurrent drugs known to induce CYP3A4 enzymes (e.g., phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampicin, barbiturates, oxacarbazepine, rifapentine, or Hypericum perforatum)