DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed cancer that overexpresses HER2/neu, measured 3+ by immunohistochemistry or positive by fluorescence in situ hybridization

  • Recurrent or metastatic disease

• Meets 1 of the following criteria for measurable or evaluable disease:

  • Unidimensionally measurable disease at least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  • Evaluable disease, defined as a lesion on physical examination or imaging study that can be assessed as to changes in size but cannot be clearly measured in 1 dimension (e.g., pleural effusions, ascites, or bone disease)

• No carcinomatous meningitis or untreated/uncontrolled metastatic brain parenchymal disease

  • Prior controlled brain parenchymal disease allowed provided at least 8 weeks since prior therapy AND no symptomatic progression off corticosteroids

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• ALT and AST ≤ 2.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.0 times ULN
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.3 mg/dL
• No known chronic liver disease (i.e., chronic active hepatitis or cirrhosis)

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

• Ejection fraction ≥ lower limit of normal by MUGA
• No uncontrolled or significant cardiovascular disease
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No ischemic heart disease requiring medication
• No congestive heart failure

Pulmonary

• No uncontrolled or significant pulmonary disease

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 3 months after study participation
• No active unresolved infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Prior trastuzumab (Herceptin®) allowed
• No concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF) or sargramostim (GM-CSF) to support blood counts
• No other concurrent anticancer biologic agents

Chemotherapy

• Prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease allowed
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered
• No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics

Radiotherapy

• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery

• More than 2 weeks since prior major surgery

Other

• At least 7 days since prior antibiotics
• No concurrent parenteral antibiotics
• No other concurrent anticancer agents
• No other concurrent investigational drugs

• No concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation with warfarin

  • Concurrent mini-dose warfarin (1 mg/day) for prophylaxis of central venous catheter thrombosis allowed