Eribulin Mesylate and Gemcitabine Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Metastatic Solid Tumors or Solid Tumors That Cannot be Removed by Surgery

Patients must have histologically confirmed malignancy that is metastatic or unresectable and for which standard curative antineoplastic drug treatments do not exist or are no longer effective:

* Ovarian/Endometrial Expansion Cohort: Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed ovarian or endometrial malignancy that is metastatic or unresectable and for which standard curative antineoplastic drug treatments do not exist or are no longer effective

CHEMOTHERAPY: Patients may have had up to two prior chemotherapy regimens for advanced or metastatic incurable solid tumors; prior (neo) adjuvant chemotherapy is allowed and not considered among the maximum of two prior regimens; patients must have completed any prior chemotherapy at least 4 weeks prior to registration; prior treatment with gemcitabine is not allowed

* Chemo Naïve/Minimally Pre-Treated Cohort: Patients may not have received any prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease; prior adjuvant chemotherapy is allowed; patients must have completed any prior chemotherapy at least 4 weeks prior to registration; prior treatment with gemcitabine is not allowed

* RADIATION: patients may have received prior radiation, however this must have been completed at least 4 weeks prior to registration; patients must not have had more than 40% of their bone marrow irradiated and must have either measurable disease outside the field or progression post radiation therapy

* SURGERY: patients may have had prior surgery; patients must be at least 4 weeks from any major surgery prior to registration on the study

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) =\< 2 (Karnofsky \>= 60%)

Life expectancy \> 3 months

Leukocytes \>= 3 x 10\^9/L

Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1.5 x 10\^9/L

Platelets \>= 100 x 10\^9/L

Total bilirubin within normal institutional limits

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase \[SGPT\]) =\< 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal

Creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal

Since cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 appears to be the major enzyme responsible for the human hepatic metabolism of E7389 in vitro, the concurrent use of inhibitors and inducers of CYP3A4 are prohibited during the study treatment period; concurrent use of CYP3A4 substrates are allowed, however, use caution and monitor the patient for potential drug interactions

The effects of E7389 on the developing human fetus are unknown; for this reason and because antitubulin agents as well as other therapeutic agents used in this trial are known to be teratogenic, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation; should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately

Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

What this study is about