Dasatinib in Treating Patients With Advanced Liver Cancer That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

Inclusion Criteria

• •Criteria:
• •WBC \>= 3,000/mm\^3
• •LVEF normal
• •Histologically or cytologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma; Advanced disease, unresectable disease, no Childs C criteria
• •Measurable disease, defined as \>= 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion \>= 20 mm by conventional techniques or \>= 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• •Not a candidate for percutaneous ethanol injection or radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
• •Prior transarterial chemoembolization, ethanol, and RFA allowed if new lesions are present in the liver and there are no other sites of disease
• •No pleural effusion or ascites requiring paracentesis within the past 4 weeks
• •No known brain metastases
• •ECOG performance status (PS) 0-1 OR Karnofsky PS 70-100%
• •Life expectancy \> 3 months
• •Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mm\^3
• •Platelet count \>= 75,000/mm\^3
• •Bilirubin =\< 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• •AST and ALT =\<2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver involvement by tumor)
• •Creatinine =\< 2 times ULN
• •PT =\< 1.5 times ULN (no anticoagulation)
• •Albumin \>= 2.5 mg/dL
• •No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to dasatinib
• •No evidence of encephalopathy
• •No condition that would preclude ability to swallow and retain dasatinib 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 clinically significant ECG abnormalities
• •No clinically significant cardiovascular disease, including any of the following:
• •* Myocardial infarction or ventricular tachyarrhythmia within the past 6 months;
• •* Prolonged QTc \>= 480 msec (Fridericia correction);
• •* Major conduction abnormality (unless cardiac pacemaker is present)
• •No other 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 disorders (antifactor VIII antibodies);
• •* Psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •Recovered from all prior therapy
• •One prior systemic chemotherapy regimen allowed
• •Prior cryosurgery allowed
• •More than 4 weeks since prior transarterial chemoembolization
• •More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• •Prior or concurrent localized palliative radiotherapy (i.e., bony metastasis) allowed provided it was administered for =\< 3 days
• •At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent antithrombotic and/or antiplatelet agents (e.g., warfarin, heparin, low molecular weight heparin, acetylsalicylic acid, and/or ibuprofen)
• •At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent agents with proarrhythmic potential
• •At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent medications or substances that are potent inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4
• •No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• •No concurrent embolization or chemoembolization
• •No concurrent systemic antacids (H2 receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors)
• •Locally active antacids allowed provided they are held for 2 hours before and 2 hours after dasatinib dose
• •No other concurrent investigational agents
• •No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies