Gefitinib in Treating Patients With Recurrent and/or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed primary squamous cell cancer of the head and neck that is incurable by surgery or radiotherapy Stratum I: Failed surgery and/or radiotherapy and received no prior systemic chemotherapy for recurrent disease OR Recurrent disease at least 6 months after prior multimodal primary therapy including neoadjuvant or concurrent chemotherapy OR Metastatic disease at initial diagnosis and received no prior chemotherapy Stratum II: No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for recurrent disease OR Recurrent disease within 6 months after prior primary therapy that included chemotherapy Measurable disease At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan Clear clinical evidence of progression or biopsy-proven residual cancer required if only site of measurable disease is in a previously irradiated field No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 OR Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: More than 3 months Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm^3 Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic: Bilirubin normal (no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal [ULN] if liver metastases present) AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN OR Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No symptomatic congestive heart failure No unstable angina pectoris No cardiac arrhythmia Other: No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No other uncontrolled concurrent illness No ongoing or active infection No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance No prior allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to gefitinib Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior therapy with agents that target epidermal growth factor receptors Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered Endocrine therapy: No concurrent tamoxifen Radiotherapy: Prior radiotherapy as primary or secondary treatment allowed At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: Prior surgery as primary or secondary treatment allowed At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery Other: No other concurrent investigational agents No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV No concurrent 3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, erythromycin, verapamil) No concurrent drugs with known corneal toxicity (e.g., chlorpromazine, amiodarone, chloroquine)