Bortezomib in Treating Patients With Unresectable Locally Advanced or Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Bile Duct or Gallbladder

Inclusion Criteria:

* Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mm3
* No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
* Chemotherapy administered solely as a radiosensitizer or as adjuvant therapy and investigational or targeted therapies (i.e., inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor) will not count toward the maximum of 2 prior regimens allowed
* Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile duct or gallbladder:

  * Locally advanced or metastatic disease
* At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion \>=20 mm by conventional techniques OR \>= 10 mm by spiral CT scan
* Not amenable to curative surgical resection
* No known brain metastases
* Performance status:

  * ECOG 0-2
* Life expectancy:

  * More than 12 weeks
* Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm3
* WBC \>= 3,000/mm3
* AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) \[Note: Biliary shunting or stenting allowed to achieve the required bilirubin and transaminase levels\]
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN \[Note: Biliary shunting or stenting allowed to achieve the required bilirubin and transaminase levels\]
* Creatinine within ULN OR Creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min
* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* No unstable angina pectoris
* No symptomatic cardiac arrhythmia within the past 4 weeks
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No underlying neuropathy \>= grade 2
* No history of allergic reaction to boron, mannitol, or bortezomib
* No active or ongoing infection
* No concurrent uncontrolled illness
* No medical or psychiatric condition that would preclude study participation
* No prophylactic granulocyte or platelet growth factors (filgrastim \[G-CSF\] or sargramostim \[GM-CSF\])
* Prior chemotherapy as a radiosensitizer (e.g., fluorouracil or gemcitabine) with radiotherapy is allowed as adjuvant therapy after resection for locally advanced disease provided there is evidence of disease progression
* No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for locally advanced or metastatic disease
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies
* No other concurrent investigational agents