Lapatinib in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Endometrial Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed endometrial carcinoma * Recurrent or persistent disease * Histologic confirmation of the original primary tumor is required * Refractory to curative therapy or standard treatments * Measurable disease * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques, including palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, or MRI OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Must have at least 1 target lesion * Tumors within a previously irradiated field are considered non-target lesions * Disease in an irradiated field as the only site of measurable disease is considered a target lesion provided there has been clear progression of the lesion since the completion of prior radiotherapy * Must have received 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for endometrial carcinoma * Initial therapy may have included high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment * No more than 1 additional prior cytotoxic regimen for recurrent or persistent disease * Tumor accessible to guided core needle or fine needle biopsy * Ineligible for a higher priority GOG protocol (e.g., any active GOG phase III protocol for the same patient population) * Performance status - GOG 0-2 (for patients who have received 1 prior treatment regimen) * Performance status - GOG 0-1 (for patients who have received 2 prior treatment regimens) * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Cardiac ejection fraction normal by echocardiogram or MUGA * No gastrointestinal (GI) tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication * No malabsorption syndrome * No requirement for IV alimentation * No uncontrolled inflammatory GI disease (e.g., Crohn's or ulcerative colitis) * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No active infection requiring antibiotics * No sensory or motor neuropathy \> grade 1 * No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to lapatinib * No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer * At least 4 weeks since prior immunologic agents for the malignant tumor * No prior trastuzumab (Herceptin\^®) or any target-specific therapy directed to the HER family (e.g., gefitinib, erlotinib, or cetuximab) * At least 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas or mitomycin for the malignant tumor and recovered * No prior non-cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease * At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for the malignant tumor * Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed * Recovered from prior radiotherapy * Recovered from prior surgery * No prior surgery affecting absorption * At least 4 weeks since other prior therapy for the malignant tumor * No prior lapatinib * No prior anticancer treatment that would preclude study treatment * Concurrent oral anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) allowed provided there is increased monitoring of INR * No concurrent CYP3A4 inducers or inhibitors * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients