Lapatinib in Treating Patients With Recurrent and/or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck * Recurrent and/or metastatic disease * Measurable disease * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * No more than 2 prior treatment regimens for recurrent or metastatic disease * Prior chemotherapy as part of initial curative intent therapy (e.g., neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or concurrent chemotherapy) is allowed and does not count as prior therapy for recurrent or metastatic disease * No known brain metastases * Performance status - ECOG 0-2 * Performance status - Karnofsky 60-100% * More than 3 months * Bilirubin normal * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal * Creatinine normal * Creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min * Cardiac ejection fraction normal by echocardiogram or MUGA * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * Able to swallow and retain oral or feeding tube-administered medication * No malabsorption syndrome * No requirement for IV alimentation * No uncontrolled inflammatory gastrointestinal disease (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to lapatinib * No other uncontrolled illness * No active or ongoing infection * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * Prior cetuximab allowed * See Disease Characteristics * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) * No prior cumulative anthracycline therapy ≥ 450 mg/m\^2 of doxorubicin or equivalent * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No prior surgical procedure affecting absorption * Recovered from prior therapy * Other prior epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (e.g., gefitinib or erlotinib) allowed * Concurrent oral anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) allowed provided there is increased vigilance in monitoring INR * No concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent anticancer therapy