Gefitinib in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Synovial Sarcoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically proven advanced or metastatic synovial sarcoma that is not amenable to surgery, radiotherapy, or combined modality treatment with curative intent * HER1 antigen expression * Must have received at least 1 prior chemotherapy regimen comprising doxorubicin and/or ifosfamide * At least 1 measurable lesion with evidence of progression within 3 months of study * Osseous lesions and pleural effusions are not considered measurable * No symptomatic or known CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * WHO 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * WBC greater than 3,000/mm\^3 * Granulocyte count greater than 1,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Albumin at least 25 g/L Renal * Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN OR * Creatinine clearance greater than 65 mL/min Cardiovascular * No history of severe cardiovascular disease Pulmonary * No evidence of clinically active interstitial lung disease * Asymptomatic chronic stable radiographic changes allowed Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No known severe hypersensitivity to gefitinib or any of its excipients * No other primary malignant tumor except adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal cell skin cancer, or any other malignant tumor in complete remission for at least 3 years * No other severe medical illness * No psychosis * No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude study compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 28 days since prior chemotherapy and recovered Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * At least 3 months since prior radiotherapy to measurable lesion and recovered * No concurrent radiotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma * Concurrent palliative radiotherapy to nontarget lesions allowed Surgery * Not specified Other * More than 28 days since prior unapproved or investigational drugs and recovered * No concurrent phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampin, barbiturates, or Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort) * No other concurrent cytostatic agents * No other concurrent tyrosine kinase activity inhibitors * No other concurrent systemic therapy for soft tissue sarcoma