This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of temsirolimus when given together with sorafenib in treating patients with unresectable or metastatic solid tumors. Sorafenib and temsirolimus may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Sorafenib may also stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Giving sorafenib together with temsirolimus may kill more tumor cells.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To characterize the safety and the toxicities of BAY 43-9006 (sorafenib) administered continuously twice daily by oral route in combination with CCI-779 (temsirolimus) administered intravenously once weekly in advanced solid malignancies.

II. To determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended dose for the phase II study (RD) of this regimen.

III. To describe the pharmacokinetic behavior of BAY 43-9006 (sorafenib) and CCI-779 (temsirolimus) when combined.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate the relationship between pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of exposure and drug effect on biological surrogates of proliferation, cell survival, differentiation and angiogenesis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and tumor tissue where the tumor is accessible for biopsy.

II. To analyze the biologic effects of BAY 43-9006 and CCI-779 on downstream targets of the P13K/Akt/mTOR and Raf signaling pathways.

III. To evaluate preliminary antitumor activity of the combination.

OUTLINE: This is an open-label, dose-escalation study of temsirolimus.

Patients receive temsirolimus IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, and 22. They also receive oral sorafenib* twice daily starting on day 8 of course 1. Treatment repeats every 4 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

NOTE: *On the days of the temsirolimus infusion, temsirolimus should be taken concurrently with the morning dose of sorafenib.

Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of temsirolimus until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. Up to 12 patients are treated at the MTD.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed for 4 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must have histologically confirmed solid malignancy that is metastatic or unresectable and for which standard curative or palliative measures do not exist or are no longer effective

• ECOG performance status =< (Karnofsky >= 60%)

• Predicted life expectancy of greater than 12 weeks

• Leukocytes >= 3,000 mcL

• Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,500/mcL

• Hemoglobin >= 9.0 g/dL

• Platelets >= 100,000/mcL

• Fasting serum cholesterol =< 350 mg/dL (9.0 mmol/L)

• Total bilirubin within normal institutional limits

• AST (SGOT)/ALT (SGPT) =< 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)

• Creatinine within normal institutional limits OR creatinine clearance >= 60 mL/min/1.73 m^2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal

• Patients on prophylactic anticoagulation therapy (e.g., low-dose warfarin) are eligible provided their coagulation parameter levels are as follows: INR (International Normalized Ratio of prothrombin time) < 1.1 x ULN

• Patients on full-dose anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) with PT INR > 1.5 are eligible provided that both of the following criteria are met:

  • The patient has an in-range INR (usually between 2 and 3) on a stable dose of oral anticoagulant or on a stable dose of low molecular weight heparin
  • The patient has no active bleeding or pathological condition that carries a high risk of bleeding (e.g., tumor involving major vessels or known varices)

• Eligibility of patients receiving any other medications or substances known to affect or with the potential to affect the activity or pharmacokinetics of BAY 43-9006 or CCI-779 will be determined following review of individual cases by the Principal Investigator; patients cannot be receiving enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs) such as phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, rifampin, or St. John's wort; patients must avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice

• Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation; should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately

• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

• Complete supportive and palliative care will continue to be provided to ameliorate signs and symptoms that were pre-existing or may arise while on study and which do not interfere with the objectives of the study; the use of erythropoietin and bisphosphonates is permitted

• Patients with CNS metastases are eligible for enrollment if they have received prior treatment (including radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, surgical resection) to site(s) of CNS metastatic disease, have no requirement for glucocorticoids, are not taking anticonvulsants, and have no overt evidence of neurological deficit; in addition, radiologic scans performed within < 14 days of study entry should not show evidence of disease progression or peritumoral edema

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) prior to entering the study or those who have not recovered from adverse events to =< grade 1 due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier, excluding alopecia
• Patients who have received any investigational compound within the past 28 days; patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents while participating in the study
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to BAY 43-9006 or CCI-779
• Hypertension with systolic blood pressure of > 140 mmHg or diastolic pressure > 90 mmHg; however, patients with well-controlled hypertension are eligible
• Patients must not have any evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy; patients with PT INR > 1.5 are excluded, unless the patient is on full dose warfarin
• Patients with any condition (e.g., gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication or a requirement for IV alimentation, prior surgical procedures affecting absorption, or active peptic ulcer disease) that impairs their ability to swallow pills are excluded
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, uncontrolled hypertension, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
• Pregnant women are excluded from this study; breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with either of these agents
• HIV-positive patients on combination antiretroviral therapy are ineligible
• Patients undergoing major surgery or sustaining a significant traumatic injury within 21 days prior to treatment are ineligible