Lenalidomide and Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer or Head and Neck Cancer

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the maximum-tolerated dose of lenalidomide when given in combination with cetuximab in patients with advanced colorectal or squamous cell head and neck cancer. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To evaluate response in refractory V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) wild-type colorectal and head/neck cancers as monitored by measurable disease by Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria. II. To measure antibody-dependent cytotoxic activity (ADCC) in patients receiving lenalidomide plus cetuximab. III. To measure natural killer cell cytokine production in patients receiving lenalidomide plus cetuximab. IV. To describe fragment c gamma receptor polymorphisms. (Exploratory) V. To describe baseline immune cell function. (Exploratory) OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of lenalidomide. Patients receive lenalidomide orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-21 and cetuximab intravenously (IV) over 1-2 hours on days 1 and 15. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for 6 weeks.