Sunitinib in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse or Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma

You may be eligible if

• Criteria:
• Histologically confirmed diffuse or mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma\*, meeting the following criteria: Advanced or metastatic disease, Incurable by standard therapies, Relapsed or refractory disease \[Note: \*Patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma whose disease has transformed from an earlier diagnosis of low grade lymphoma (i.e., an indolent histology) are eligible\]
• Bidimensionally measurable disease\*\* by CT scan, MRI, or physical exam, with \>= 1 disease site meeting 1 of the following criteria: Lymph nodes \>= 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm by spiral CT scan, Non-nodal regions \>= 1 cm x 1 cm by MRI, CT scan, or physical exam \[Note: \*\*Bone lesions are not considered bidimensionally measurable disease\]
• Received 1-2 prior chemotherapy regimens that included doxorubicin hydrochloride; Prior stem cell transplantation and high-dose chemotherapy is considered one regimen; One prior non-chemotherapy regimen in the form of radiation allowed; Measurable disease must be outside the previously irradiated area;
• No sole site of disease in a previously irradiated area unless progressive disease or new lesions are documented; Low-dose palliative radiotherapy may be allowed
• No known brain metastases
• Life expectancy \>= 12 weeks
• ECOG performance status 0-1
• Absolute granulocyte count \>= 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
• AST and ALT =\< 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin normal
• Calcium =\< 3 mmol/L
• Creatinine =\< 1.25 times ULN OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min
• LVEF normal by MUGA
• None of the following in the past 12 months: cardiac arrhythmia, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft or stenting, myocardial infarction, stable or unstable angina, symptomatic congestive heart failure, transient ischemic attack, pulmonary embolism
• No uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure \>= 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure \>= 90 mm Hg)
• No New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV heart disease
• No QTc prolongation (QTc interval \>= 500 msec) or other significant ECG abnormalities
• No other prior malignancies except nonmelanoma skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, or other solid tumors curatively treated with no evidence of disease for \>= 5 years
• No history of allergic reaction to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to sunitinib malate
• No other serious illness or medical condition that would preclude study participation, including, but not limited to, the following:
• active, uncontrolled infection, serious or nonhealing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture, history of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorder that would impair the ability to obtain consent or limit compliance
• Other medical condition that might be aggravated by treatment
• No abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 28 days
• No bowel obstruction
• No condition that would impair the ability to swallow and retain sunitinib malate tablets, including any of the following:
• Gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in inability to take oral medication or a requirement for IV alimentation, Prior surgical procedures affecting absorption, Active peptic ulcer disease
• No pre-existing hypothyroidism unless euthyroid on medication
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• At least 28 days since prior chemotherapy
• At least 28 days since prior radiotherapy and recovered; radiotherapy must have involved \< 30% of functioning bone marrow
• At least 28 days since prior major surgery and recovered
• At least 12 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers, including any of the following: rifampin, phenytoin, rifabutin, hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort), carbamazepine, efavirenz, phenobarbital, tipranavir,
• At least 7 days since prior and concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors, including any of the following: azole antifungals (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole), verapamil, clarithromycin, HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., indinavir, saquinavir, ritonavir, atazanavir, nelfinavir), erythromycin, delavirdine, diltiazem,
• No prior therapy with other antiangiogenic agents or multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including any of the following:
• bevacizumab, sorafenib tosylate, pazopanib, thalidomide, AZD2171 vandetanib, AMG 706, vatalanib, VEGF Trap
• No concurrent therapeutic doses of coumarin-derivative anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin); Concurrent dosing of =\< 2 mg of warfarin daily for prophylaxis of thrombosis is allowed; Concurrent low molecular weight heparin is allowed provided INR is =\< 1.5
• No other concurrent anticancer treatments, including investigational agents
• 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