Saracatinib in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck * Persistent, recurrent, or metastatic disease that is not amenable to curative-intent therapy with surgery or radiation * Measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) ≥ 20 mm with conventional techniques or ≥ 10 mm with spiral computed tomography (CT) scan * Karnofsky performance status ≥ 60% * White blood cell (WBC) ≥ 3,000/mcL * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mcL * Platelets ≥ 100,000/mcL * Hemoglobin \> 9 g/dL * Total bilirubin within upper institutional limits of normal (ULN) * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) /alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN * Creatinine within ULN OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min * Patients must agree to use adequate birth control for the duration of study participation and for at least 8 weeks after discontinuation of study drug * May have received 1 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen for recurrent or metastatic disease Exclusion Criteria: * Known brain metastases * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to AZD0530 * Urine protein: creatinine ratio ≥ 1.0 OR 24-hour urine protein ≥ 1,000 mg * QTc prolongation ≥ 480 msecs * Intercurrent symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, or cardiac arrhythmia * History of myocardial infarction within the past year * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Pregnant or breastfeeding women * Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients on combination antiretroviral therapy * Pulmonary fibrosis ≥ grade 2, pleural effusion (non-malignant) ≥ grade 2, or pneumonitis/pulmonary infiltrates ≥ grade 2 * Patients who have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) prior to entering the study * Patients who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier * Use of specifically prohibited cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4)-active agents or substances * Prohibited drugs should be discontinued 7 days prior to the administration of the first dose of AZD0530 and for 7 days following discontinuation of AZD0530 * Patients receiving any other investigational agents