Dasatinib in Treating Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the pancreas
* Metastatic disease
* Measurable or evaluable/nonmeasurable disease
* No known brain metastases
* ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 OR Karnofsky PS 60-100%
* Life expectancy \> 12 weeks
* Absolute granulocyte count \>= 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin \> 8.5 g/dL
* Bilirubin =\< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST and ALT =\< 2.5 times ULN
* Creatinine =\< 2.0 mg/dL
* Not pregnant or nursing
* No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to dasatinib
* No QTc prolongation (i.e., QTc interval \>= 480 msecs \[Fridericia correction\]) or other significant ECG abnormalities
* LVEF normal by MUGA scan
* No condition that impairs ability to swallow and retain dasatinib tablets, including any of the following:

  * Gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication or a requirement for IV alimentation
  * Prior surgical procedures affecting absorption
  * Active peptic ulcer disease
* No clinically significant cardiovascular disease, including any of the following:

  * Myocardial infarction or ventricular tachyarrhythmia within the past 6 months
  * Major conduction abnormality (unless a cardiac pacemaker is present)
* Recovered from all prior therapy
* More than 4 weeks since prior adjuvant chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) and/or radiotherapy
* No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease
* More than 4 weeks since prior EGFR inhibitors (e.g., imatinib mesylate, gefitinib, erlotinib hydrochloride, or lapatinib ditosylate)
* No prior EGFR inhibitors that target Src kinases
* At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent agents with proarrhythmic potential
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* No concurrent grapefruit or grapefruit juice
* No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies
* No concurrent systemic antacids (i.e., H2-receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors) \[Locally acting antacids (e.g., Maalox, Mylanta) allowed within either 2 hours before or 2 hours after dasatinib therapy\]
* No concurrent uncontrolled illness, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

  * Ongoing or active infection
  * History of significant bleeding disorder, including congenital (von Willebrand's disease) or acquired (anti-factor VIII antibodies) disorders
  * Large pleural effusions
  * Psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
* More than 7 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers or inhibitors
* No other concurrent investigational agents