Trastuzumab and Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic HER2/Neu-Expressing Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed cancer that overexpresses HER2/neu, measured 3+ by immunohistochemistry or positive by fluorescence in situ hybridization
• * Recurrent or metastatic disease
• Meets 1 of the following criteria for measurable or evaluable disease:
• * Unidimensionally measurable disease at least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• * Evaluable disease, defined as a lesion on physical examination or imaging study that can be assessed as to changes in size but cannot be clearly measured in 1 dimension (e.g., pleural effusions, ascites, or bone disease)
• No carcinomatous meningitis or untreated/uncontrolled metastatic brain parenchymal disease
• * Prior controlled brain parenchymal disease allowed provided at least 8 weeks since prior therapy AND no symptomatic progression off corticosteroids
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic
• ALT and AST ≤ 2.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.0 times ULN
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.3 mg/dL
• No known chronic liver disease (i.e., chronic active hepatitis or cirrhosis)
• Renal
• Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular
• Ejection fraction ≥ lower limit of normal by MUGA
• No uncontrolled or significant cardiovascular disease
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No ischemic heart disease requiring medication
• No congestive heart failure
• Pulmonary
• No uncontrolled or significant pulmonary disease
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 3 months after study participation
• No active unresolved infection
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• Prior trastuzumab (Herceptin®) allowed
• No concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF) or sargramostim (GM-CSF) to support blood counts
• No other concurrent anticancer biologic agents
• Chemotherapy
• Prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease allowed
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered
• No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• Radiotherapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• Surgery
• More than 2 weeks since prior major surgery
• Other
• At least 7 days since prior antibiotics
• No concurrent parenteral antibiotics
• No other concurrent anticancer agents
• No other concurrent investigational drugs
• No concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation with warfarin
• * Concurrent mini-dose warfarin (1 mg/day) for prophylaxis of central venous catheter thrombosis allowed