Tivantinib With or Without Erlotinib Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Locally Advanced Kidney Cancer That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed papillary histology renal cell carcinoma which is metastatic, or locally advanced and unresectable; mixed histologies will be allowed provided that they contain \>= 50% of the papillary component

Patients must have measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension; x-rays, scans or physical examinations used for tumor measurement must have been completed within 28 days prior to registration; x-rays, scans or physical examinations for non-measurable disease must have been completed within 42 days prior to registration; all disease must be assessed and documented on the Baseline Tumor Assessment form

Patients with metastatic disease who have a resectable primary tumor and are deemed a surgical candidate may have undergone resection; at least 28 days must have elapsed since surgery and patient must have recovered from any adverse effects of surgery

Patients with a history of brain metastases who are asymptomatic and have not received steroid therapy in the 14 days prior to registration are eligible; anti-seizure medications are allowed provided they are non-enzyme inducing (e.g. topiramate, levetiracetam, gabapentin)

Patients may have received up to one prior systemic therapy for advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma; patients must not have received a MET inhibitor or erlotinib as prior therapy; at least 21 days must have elapsed since completion of prior systemic therapy, 42 days for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C; patients must have recovered from all associated toxicities at the time of registration

Patients may have received prior radiation therapy, but must have measurable disease outside the radiation port; at least 21 days must have elapsed since completion of prior radiation therapy; patients must have recovered from all associated toxicities at the time of registration

Patients must not be receiving or planning to receive any other investigational agents

Patients must have a complete physical examination and medical history within 28 days prior to registration

Patients must have a Zubrod performance status of 0-2

White blood cell (WBC) \>= 2,000/mcL

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1,000/mcL

Platelet count \>= 75,000/mcL

Serum bilirubin =\< 1.5 x institutional upper limits of normal (ULN)

Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT)/aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) must be =\< 1.5 x the institutional ULN unless the liver is involved with the tumor, in which case serum transaminase (SGOT/SGPT) must be =\< 5 x the institutional ULN

Serum creatinine must be =\< 2 x the institutional ULN

Sodium, potassium and calcium must be obtained within 14 days prior to registration

What this study is about