Sunitinib and Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Pancreatic Cancer or Other Solid Tumors

Criteria:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma OR other solid tumor:

  * Not amenable to curative therapy
  * Previously untreated metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma allowed
* Measurable or evaluable disease
* No history of or known brain metastases, spinal cord compression, carcinomatous meningitis, or new evidence of brain or leptomeningeal disease on screening CT scan or MRI scan
* ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 OR Karnofsky PS 60-100%
* Life expectancy \>= 12 weeks
* Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mm3
* Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm3
* Hemoglobin \>= 8.5 g/dL
* Bilirubin =\< 1.5 mg/dL
* Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min
* AST and ALT =\< 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (=\< 5 times ULN if due to underlying disease)
* Calcium =\< 12.0 mg/dL
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 6 months after completion of study therapy
* LVEF normal by MUGA scan or ECHO at baseline
* Deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism allowed provided they are clinically stable and adequately treated
* No preexisting thyroid abnormality that results in the inability to maintain thyroid function in the normal range while using medication
* No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to sunitinib malate
* No history of any of the following within the past 6 months:

  * Myocardial infarction
  * Ventricular arrhythmia (i.e., ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation \>= 3 beats in a row)
  * Severe/unstable angina
  * Severe peripheral vascular disease (i.e., claudication)
  * Procedure on peripheral vasculature
  * Coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft
  * Cerebrovascular accident
* No history of any of the following within the past 6 months:

  * Transient ischemic attack;
  * Clinically significant bleeding requiring red blood cell transfusion
* No NYHA class III or IV heart disease:

  * Patients with NYHA class II disease who are stable and on medication are eligible
* No ongoing cardiac dysrhythmias \>= grade 2, atrial fibrillation of any grade, or any significant EKG abnormalities
* No hypertension that cannot be controlled by medications to a systolic blood pressure (BP) of \< 140 mm Hg and diastolic BP of \< 90 mm Hg
* No condition that impairs the ability to swallow and retain sunitinib malate tablets, including 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 gastrointestinal perforation or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 28 days
* No serious nonhealing infection or bone fracture
* No other severe acute or chronic medical condition, psychiatric condition, or laboratory abnormality that would preclude study therapy
* May have received any number of prior systemic therapies
* More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy or surgery and recovered
* More than 4 weeks since other prior therapies and recovered
* Prior gemcitabine hydrochloride allowed
* No prior sunitinib malate or other therapy directed against VEGF, including any of the following:

Sorafenib; Bevacizumab; Vatalanib; AZD2171; VEGF Trap; Investigational antiangiogenic therapy

* More than 7 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors, including any of the following:

  * Ketoconazole
  * Itraconazole
  * Clarithromycin
  * Erythromycin
  * Diltiazem
  * Verapamil
  * Indinavir
  * Ritonavir
  * Nelfinavir
  * Saquinavir
  * Atazanavir
  * Delavirdine
* More than 12 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers, including any of the following:

  * Rifampin
  * Rifabutin
  * Carbamazepine
  * Phenobarbital
  * Phenytoin
  * Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
  * Efavirenz
  * Tipranavir
* No concurrent agents with proarrhythmic potential, including any of the following:

  * Terfenadine
  * Quinidine
  * Procainamide
  * Disopyramide
  * Sotalol
  * Probucol
  * Bepridil
  * Haloperidol
  * Risperidone
  * Indapamide
  * Flecainide
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* No concurrent treatment on another clinical trial:

Participation in non-therapeutic clinical trials allowed

* QTc \< 500 msec