Pazopanib in Treating Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed malignant pleural mesothelioma:

  * Measurable disease
  * No progressive disease inside or outside of any prior radiation field
* No symptomatic, untreated, or uncontrolled CNS metastases

  * Patients with CNS metastases treated with whole brain radiation (WBRT) may be enrolled after completion of WBRT

    * Patients may begin study therapy as early as the next day after completion of WBRT
* ECOG performance status 0-2
* Life expectancy \>= 12 weeks
* ANC \>=1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
* WBC \>= 3,000/mm\^3
* Bilirubin =\< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST and ALT =\< 2.5 times ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase =\< 2.5 times ULN
* Creatinine =\< 1.5 times ULN or creatinine clearance \>= 50 mL/min
* Proteinuria =\< 1+ on 2 consecutive dipsticks taken \>= 1 week apart
* No condition that impairs ability to swallow and retain study drug tablets 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 other primary malignancy except for carcinoma in situ of the cervix or nonmelanomatous skin cancer, unless that prior malignancy was diagnosed and definitively treated ≥ 5 years ago with no subsequent evidence of recurrence
* Patients with a history of low-grade (Gleason score =\< 6) localized prostate cancer are eligible even if diagnosed within the past 5 years
* No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to pazopanib hydrochloride or other agents used in the study
* None of the following concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled medical conditions:

  * Serious or nonhealing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
  * Abdominal fistula, diverticulosis, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 28 days
  * Poorly controlled diabetes
  * Interstitial pneumonia
  * Extensive and symptomatic interstitial fibrosis of the lung
* No cardiovascular illness or complication, including any of the following:

  * Any history of cerebrovascular accident within the past 6 months
  * History of myocardial infarction (prior electrocardiographic evidence of myocardial injury)
  * History of cardiac arrhythmia (prior electrocardiographic evidence of abnormal heart rhythm)
  * Admission for unstable angina
  * Cardiac angioplasty or stenting within the past 12 months
  * NYHA class III-IV heart failure

    * Asymptomatic NYHA class II heart failure allowed
  * QTc prolongation (defined as a QTc interval ≥ 500 msecs) or other significant electrocardiogram abnormalities
  * Venous thrombosis within the past 12 weeks
* No ancillary therapy considered investigational within the past 4 weeks
* No symptomatic, untreated, or uncontrolled seizure disorder
* No uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit study compliance
* No significant traumatic injury within the past 4 weeks
* No more than 1 prior systemic therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma
* No major surgery (i.e., laparotomy) or open biopsy within the past 4 weeks

  * Insertion of a vascular access device is not considered major or minor surgery
* No minor surgery within the past 2 weeks

  * Insertion of a vascular access device is not considered major or minor surgery
* Prior palliative radiotherapy allowed

  * No prior palliative radiotherapy to the chest except for a maximum of 3 fractions of radiotherapy for superior vena cava syndrome
* No concurrent therapeutic warfarin

  * Low molecular-weight heparin or prophylactic low-dose warfarin allowed
* No other concurrent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy, or radiotherapy
* No concurrent medications that act through the CYP450 system
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* PT/INR/PTT =\< 1.2 times ULN
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective nonhormonal contraception
* No uncontrolled infection
* No uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) (defined as systolic BP \> 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP \> 90 mm Hg in spite of adequate anti-hypertensive therapy)
* No other severe underlying disease that, in the judgment of the investigator, would limit study compliance