Irinotecan in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Inoperable Thyroid Cancer

Inclusion Histologically confirmed medullary thyroid cancer Metastatic or inoperable locoregional disease Measurable disease by CT scan 18 years and over ECOG PS 0-1 Adequate lab functions including: Granulocyte count > 1,000/mm^3 Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3 Bilirubin < 1.5 mg/dL ALT and AST < 2.5 times upper limit of normal No unstable or uncompensated hepatic disease Creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min No unstable or uncompensated renal disease Negative pregnancy test More than 3 months since prior biologic therapy More than 3 months since prior chemotherapy No prior radiotherapy to > 25% of bone marrow More than 3 months since prior radiotherapy Recovered from prior oncologic or other major surgery More than 30 days since prior non-approved or investigational drugs Exclusion: Patients with elevated calcitonin levels as the only measurement of disease are not eligible Unstable or uncompensated cardiovascular disease Unstable or uncompensated respiratory disease Pregnant or nursing Diarrhea ≥ grade 2 (antidiarrheals allowed) Other severe or uncontrolled systemic disease Other malignancy within the past 5 years except squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer or cervical cancer Illness that would preclude study participation Significant clinical disorder or laboratory finding that would preclude study participation