DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed metastatic solid tumor for which there are no effective standard treatment options
• HER2 positive (1+ to 3+)
• Tumor has a high likelihood of expressing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)

• No evidence of leptomeningeal disease or brain metastases unless previously treated, currently asymptomatic, and off both antiepileptics and dexamethasone

  • Patients with treated brain metastases are eligible if they are without any clinical change in their brain disease status for at least 4 weeks after whole brain irradiation

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2 OR
• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy

• At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic

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

Hepatic

• Bilirubin normal
• AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver has tumor involvement)

Renal

• Creatinine normal OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular

• LVEF more than 50% by radionuclide ventriculogram or MUGA scan
• No significant cardiovascular disease
• No prior congestive heart failure requiring therapy
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

Gastrointestinal

• No gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication or a requirement for IV alimentation

  • Patients who are unable to swallow tablets and/or who have silicon-based G-tubes may dissolve the tablets in distilled water
• No active peptic ulcer disease

Other

• HIV negative
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No known or suspected hypersensitivity to paclitaxel
• No prior allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to erlotinib or other study agents
• No concurrent active infection
• No other concurrent medical condition that would preclude study participation
• No persistent grade 2 or greater neurotoxicity/neuropathy from any cause
• No psychiatric disorders or altered mental status that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No other concurrent immunotherapy
• No concurrent cytokine growth factors (e.g., colony-stimulating factors)

Chemotherapy

• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) and recovered
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent hormonal therapy except megestrol as an appetite stimulant or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists for prostate cancer

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

• No prior surgical procedures affecting absorption

Other

• No prior EGFR-targeting therapy
• No other concurrent experimental medications or other specific antitumor therapy
• No concurrent immunosuppressant therapy
• No concurrent antiarrhythmic therapy for a ventricular arrhythmia