Lapatinib and Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed solid tumor, including the following tumor types: * Breast cancer * Non-small cell lung cancer * Prostate cancer * Bladder cancer * Gastroesophageal junction cancer * Ovarian cancer * Germ cell tumor * Advanced or metastatic disease * No effective curative therapy exists * Evaluable disease * Measurable disease not required * Bone-only disease allowed * No progressing brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Life expectancy \> 3 months * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin normal * AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal * Creatinine normal * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No serious intercurrent medical or psychiatric illness * No serious active infection * No gastrointestinal tract disease that would impair a patient's ability to take oral medication * No history of significant cardiac disease, including any of the following: * Congestive heart failure * Symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias * Unstable angina * No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy ≥ 2 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * Any number of prior therapies allowed * Prior paclitaxel, tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, or endothelial growth factor inhibitors allowed * At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers or herbal or dietary supplements * At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors * At least 6 months since prior and no concurrent amiodarone * More than 1 month since prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, or investigational anticancer agents * Concurrent continued use of gonadal suppression agents (i.e., goserelin acetate or leuprolide acetate) allowed * No antacids 1 hour before and after study drug administration * No concurrent retinoids * No concurrent hormonal anticancer agent * No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy or investigational anticancer agents