Tivantinib With or Without Erlotinib Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Locally Advanced Kidney Cancer That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed papillary histology renal cell carcinoma which is metastatic, or locally advanced and unresectable; mixed histologies will be allowed provided that they contain \>= 50% of the papillary component * Patients must have measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension; x-rays, scans or physical examinations used for tumor measurement must have been completed within 28 days prior to registration; x-rays, scans or physical examinations for non-measurable disease must have been completed within 42 days prior to registration; all disease must be assessed and documented on the Baseline Tumor Assessment form * Patients with metastatic disease who have a resectable primary tumor and are deemed a surgical candidate may have undergone resection; at least 28 days must have elapsed since surgery and patient must have recovered from any adverse effects of surgery * Patients with a history of brain metastases who are asymptomatic and have not received steroid therapy in the 14 days prior to registration are eligible; anti-seizure medications are allowed provided they are non-enzyme inducing (e.g. topiramate, levetiracetam, gabapentin) * Patients may have received up to one prior systemic therapy for advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma; patients must not have received a MET inhibitor or erlotinib as prior therapy; at least 21 days must have el…