Dasatinib in Treating Patients With Relapsed Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (limited or extensive stage disease)
* Progressive or recurrent disease after an initial response to first-line treatment with a platinum-based chemotherapy with or without concurrent definitive radiotherapy to the chest (chemotherapy must have been completed at least 90 days prior to documentation of relapse)
* Measurable disease, defined as \>= 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion \>= 20 mm by conventional techniques OR \>= 10 mm by spiral CT scan
* Lesions that are not considered measurable include the following:

  * Bone lesions
  * Leptomeningeal disease
  * Ascites
  * Pleural or pericardial effusion
  * Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
  * Cystic lesions
  * Tumor lesions situated in a previously irradiated area, unless progression after radiotherapy is documented in these lesions
* No known brain metastases (previously treated brain metastases allowed provided they are neurologically stable for \>= 4 weeks)
* ECOG performance status 0-1
* Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
* Bilirubin =\< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Creatinine =\< 1.5 times ULN OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min
* AST =\< 2.5 times ULN
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* No significant cardiac disease, including any of the following:

  * New York Heart Association class III-IV heart disease
  * Myocardial infarction or ventricular tachyarrhythmia within the past 6 months
  * Prolonged QTc \> 480 msec (Fridericia correction)
  * Major conduction abnormality (unless a cardiac pacemaker is present)
* No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen
* No prior dasatinib or compounds of similar chemical composition or similar biologic therapeutic activity including, but not limited to, any inhibitors of SRC, BCR-ABL, c-KIT, EPHA2, or PDGFRB kinases
* At least 2 weeks since prior definitive or palliative radiotherapy (prior radiotherapy allowed in the context of combined modality treatment with curative intent for limited stage disease; prophylactic cranial radiotherapy; or palliative radiotherapy initially or at relapse)
* At least 2 weeks since prior surgery and recovered
* At least 1 week since prior and no concurrent agents with proarrhythmic potential
* At least 1 week since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers
* At least 1 week since prior and no concurrent grapefruit concentrate
* No concurrent palliative radiotherapy
* No concurrent hormones or other chemotherapeutic agents, except steroids for adrenal failure, hormones for noncancer-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes), or intermittent dexamethasone as an antiemetic
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* No other concurrent chemotherapeutic or investigational agents
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for \>= 6 weeks after completion of study therapy