Erlotinib Plus Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced, Metastatic, or Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck meeting 1 of the following staging criteria: * Recurrent * Metastatic * Locally advanced and determined to be incurable by surgery or radiotherapy * Measurable disease * No known brain metastases * Performance status - ECOG 0-2 * Performance status - Karnofsky 60-100% * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin normal * AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal * Creatinine normal * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * No severe pulmonary insufficiency, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, requiring oxygen (O2 saturation less than 90%) and/or increase in PaCO2 blood gas level greater than 50 mm Hg * No history of abnormality of the cornea (e.g., dry eye syndrome or Sjögren's syndrome) * No congenital abnormality (e.g., Fuch's dystrophy) * No abnormal slit-lamp examination using a vital dye (e.g., fluorescein or Bengal-Rose) * No abnormal corneal sensitivity test (Schirmer test or similar tear production test) * Able to take oral medication * No requirement for IV alimentation * No active peptic ulcer disease * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No significant traumatic injury within the past 21 days * No prior allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to study drugs * No grade 2 or greater persistent peripheral neuropathy * No other concurrent uncontrolled illness that would preclude study participation * No ongoing or active infection * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No prior immunotherapy for head and neck cancer * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen in the adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease * No prior docetaxel (phase II only) * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered * No prior hormonal therapy for head and neck cancer * Prior external beam radiotherapy allowed * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * More than 21 days since prior major surgery * No prior surgery affecting gastrointestinal absorption * No prior epidermal growth factor receptor-targeting therapy * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent anticancer therapies or agents * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients