An Exploratory, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Prophylactic Tetracycline for Gefitinib-or Cetuximab-Induced Skin Rash (or Other Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Inhibitor-Induced Skin Rash)

OBJECTIVES: * Compare the 1-month incidence and severity of gefitinib-, cetuximab-, or other epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor-induced skin rash development in patients with cancer treated with tetracycline vs placebo. * Compare the toxicity of these drugs in these patients. * Compare the quality of life of patients treated with these drugs who develop vs those who do not develop a rash. * Determine whether patients who discontinue tetracycline at 1 month develop a rash. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to prior chemotherapy regimen (first-line therapy vs other), concurrent epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor therapy (gefitinib vs cetuximab vs other), and concurrent corticosteroid therapy (yes vs no). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I: Patients receive oral tetracycline twice daily. * Arm II: Patients receive oral placebo twice daily. In both arms, treatment continues for 4 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. Quality of life is assessed at baseline and then weekly for 8 weeks. Patients are followed at weeks 4 and 8. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 126 patients will be accrued for this study.