This phase II trial studies how well giving temsirolimus together with cetuximab works compared to temsirolimus alone in treating patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck cancer who did not respond to previous therapy. Temsirolimus may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. It is not yet known whether giving temsirolimus together with cetuximab is more effective than giving temsirolimus alone.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Primary endpoint is progression free survival (PFS) of cetuximab/temsirolimus combination cohort (Arm A) compared to temsirolimus alone (Arm B).

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Progression-free survival (PFS) of cetuximab/temsirolimus combination group (Arm A) and temsirolimus control group (Arm B) compared to a historic control cohort.

II. Subgroup analysis of myofibroblast (+) cohort (PFS). III. Overall survival (OS). IV. Toxicities. V. Response (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors [RECIST])/absolute tumor shrinkage (waterfall plot analysis).

VI. Activity of combination therapy (temsirolimus/cetuximab) after failure (progressive disease [PD]) of temsirolimus monotherapy.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

ARM A: Patients receive temsirolimus intravenously (IV) over 30-60 minutes and cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours once weekly. Courses repeat every 4 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

ARM B: Patients receive temsirolimus as in Arm A. Courses repeat every 4 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with progressive disease may cross over to Arm A.

After completion of study therapy, patients are followed up for a minimum of 8 weeks and then once a year for 5 years.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically/cytologically confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck origin not amenable to curative intent therapy; information on prior exposure to cetuximab (duration, single agent/combined with chemotherapy/combined with radiation, best response, interval prior to study entry) will be collected

• Progressive disease by RECIST criteria (or unequivocal clinical progression) on a cetuximab based therapy in any line of therapy for recurrent/metastatic disease; prior use of cetuximab for recurrent/metastatic disease is defined as palliative intent use either alone or in combination with chemotherapy with a minimum of 2 weeks of uninterrupted treatment with cetuximab; treatment with cetuximab during radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy is not sufficient

• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1

• Presence of measurable lesions by RECIST: patients must have measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as >= 20 mm with conventional techniques or as >= 10 mm with spiral computed tomography (CT) scan

• Knowledge of the anatomic site of the original tumor (oropharynx versus non-oropharynx) or alternatively human papilloma virus (HPV) status; the trial will stratify patients by oropharynx versus non-oropharynx origin; HPV(+) tumors will be counted in the oropharynx cohort, HPV(-) tumors in the non-oropharynx cohort; at a later point all patients will undergo HPV testing as part of this trial; any widely used form of HPV testing is acceptable (including but not limited to HPV in situ hybridization [ISH], p16 testing [immunohistochemistry (IHC)], HPV16 testing, polymerase chain reaction [PCR], hybrid capture, etc)

• Availability of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue and blood

  • FFPE: >=14 slides containing tumor, 18 recommended

    • 7-10 slides 5 um thick, AND 7-10 slides 10 um thick, and cut with a clean blade (use new blade if possible or clean vigorously to avoid RNA/DNA, RNase contamination)

  • Blood: two 10 cc ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) purple top tubes (blood); two 2 ml cryovials (serum)

• Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), not requiring highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) therapy are eligible

• Life expectancy of greater than 8 weeks

• Leukocytes >= 2,000/mcL

• Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,500/mcL

• Platelets >= 100,000/mcL

• Total bilirubin within normal institutional limits (unless proven Gilbert's disease, which after principal investigator [PI] approval patient may be included)

• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [SGPT]) =< 2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal

• Creatinine within 1.5 X normal institutional limits

• 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

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

• Fasting glucose of =< 120 mg/dl and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) =< 7.5%

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 2 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) prior to entering the study or those who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 2 weeks earlier
• Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents
• Patients with known, active brain metastases should be excluded from this clinical trial; patients with treated brain metastases stable for >= 12 weeks are eligible
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to temsirolimus or cetuximab
• Concurrent life-threatening diseases: patients with diseases which with reasonable certainty do not limit life expectancy to 12 months or less are eligible; assessment of such concurrent illnesses should be by the principal investigator
• Use of strong inhibitors/inducers of CYP3A4 is not permitted
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, 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 temsirolimus
• HIV-positive patients with normal immune function (CD4 count > 200) are eligible if there are no drug interactions with temsirolimus or cetuximab; patients with impaired immune function are ineligible due to the risk of additional immunosuppression from temsirolimus therapy
• Concurrent administration of temsirolimus with vaccinations is to be avoided and a 14-day window from administration of the vaccine is advised; in emergent situations this policy may be revisited by the PI if deemed important for the patient's health
• Poorly controlled hyperglycemia (HbA1C > 7.5%) or hyperlipidemia are exclusion criteria; hyperglycemia or hyperlipidemia need to be appropriately managed and controlled
• Concurrent use of warfarin is allowed, but requires close monitoring of prothrombin time (PT)/international normalized ratio (INR)
• Patients with clinically significant pneumonitis/pulmonary infiltrates unless there is a known and treatable cause for the condition