Dasatinib in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB, Stage IV, or Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
* Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer meeting 1 of the following criteria:

  * Stage IV disease
  * Stage IIIB disease with pleural effusion
  * Recurrent disease after surgery or radiotherapy
* Measurable disease, defined as \>= 1 lesion that can be accurately measured in at least 1 dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) \>= 20 mm by conventional techniques OR \>= 10 mm by spiral CT scan
* Previously treated brain metastasis allowed, provided there is no bleeding, no midline shift, no need for steroids or anti-convulsants, and no symptoms
* Must agree to obtain residual tumor tissue available from the existing diagnostic biopsy tumor tissue
* Eastern cooperative oncology group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0-1 OR Karnofsky PS 60-100%
* Life expectancy \> 12 weeks
* White blood cell (WBC) \>= 3,000/mm\^3
* Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mm\^3
* Bilirubin =\< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and ALT =\< 2.5 times ULN
* Creatinine =\< 3 times ULN OR Creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min
* No uncontrolled congestive heart failure or potentially life-threatening arrhythmia
* No angina at rest
* No neuropathy \>= grade 2
* No chronic diarrhea or history of inflammatory bowel disease
* No history of pulmonary fibrosis (other than in an irradiated field)
* No other concurrent serious medical illness
* O2 saturation \> 92% on room air
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No history of allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to dasatinib
* No heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation (i.e., QTC \>= 480 msec) or other significant ECG abnormalities that could lead to adverse effects if the QTc interval were prolonged
* No medical condition that impairs the ability to swallow, retain, or absorb dasatinib including, but not limited to, any of the following:

  * Gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication, requirement for IV alimentation, prior surgical procedures affecting absorption, active peptic ulcer disease
* No myocardial infarction or ventricular tachyarrhythmia within the past 6 months
* left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) normal
* No major conduction abnormality (unless cardiac pacemaker is present)
* No ongoing or active infection
* No history of significant bleeding disorder (congenital \[von Willebrand's disease\] or acquired \[antifactor VIII antibodies\])
* No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
* No prior chemotherapy or biologic therapy for recurrent or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
* Adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy after surgical resection or chemotherapy with radiation for locally advanced disease (curative intent) allowed provided disease recurrence \>= 3 months after completion of last chemotherapy dose
* Measurable disease must be outside the radiotherapy port OR clearly growing inside the port
* No prior radiotherapy to \>= 25% of the marrow-containing skeleton
* At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent medications that are inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4
* At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent agents with proarrhythmic potential
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies
* No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* No concurrent systemic antacids (H2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors)
* Locally acting antacids allowed except for 2 hours before and after dasatinib administration