Sunitinib and Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Pancreatic Cancer or Other Solid Tumors

You may be eligible if

• Criteria:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma OR other solid tumor:
• * Not amenable to curative therapy
• * Previously untreated metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma allowed
• Measurable or evaluable disease
• No history of or known brain metastases, spinal cord compression, carcinomatous meningitis, or new evidence of brain or leptomeningeal disease on screening CT scan or MRI scan
• ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 OR Karnofsky PS 60-100%
• Life expectancy \>= 12 weeks
• Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mm3
• Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm3
• Hemoglobin \>= 8.5 g/dL
• Bilirubin =\< 1.5 mg/dL
• Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min
• AST and ALT =\< 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (=\< 5 times ULN if due to underlying disease)
• Calcium =\< 12.0 mg/dL
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 6 months after completion of study therapy
• LVEF normal by MUGA scan or ECHO at baseline
• Deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism allowed provided they are clinically stable and adequately treated
• No preexisting thyroid abnormality that results in the inability to maintain thyroid function in the normal range while using medication
• No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to sunitinib malate
• No history of any of the following within the past 6 months:
• * Myocardial infarction
• * Ventricular arrhythmia (i.e., ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation \>= 3 beats in a row)
• * Severe/unstable angina
• * Severe peripheral vascular disease (i.e., claudication)
• * Procedure on peripheral vasculature
• * Coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft
• * Cerebrovascular accident
• No history of any of the following within the past 6 months:
• * Transient ischemic attack;
• * Clinically significant bleeding requiring red blood cell transfusion
• No NYHA class III or IV heart disease:
• * Patients with NYHA class II disease who are stable and on medication are eligible
• No ongoing cardiac dysrhythmias \>= grade 2, atrial fibrillation of any grade, or any significant EKG abnormalities
• No hypertension that cannot be controlled by medications to a systolic blood pressure (BP) of \< 140 mm Hg and diastolic BP of \< 90 mm Hg
• No condition that impairs the ability to swallow and retain sunitinib malate 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 gastrointestinal perforation or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 28 days
• No serious nonhealing infection or bone fracture
• No other severe acute or chronic medical condition, psychiatric condition, or laboratory abnormality that would preclude study therapy
• May have received any number of prior systemic therapies
• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy or surgery and recovered
• More than 4 weeks since other prior therapies and recovered
• Prior gemcitabine hydrochloride allowed
• No prior sunitinib malate or other therapy directed against VEGF, including any of the following:
• Sorafenib; Bevacizumab; Vatalanib; AZD2171; VEGF Trap; Investigational antiangiogenic therapy
• More than 7 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors, including any of the following:
• * Ketoconazole
• * Itraconazole
• * Clarithromycin
• * Erythromycin
• * Diltiazem
• * Verapamil
• * Indinavir
• * Ritonavir
• * Nelfinavir
• * Saquinavir
• * Atazanavir
• * Delavirdine
• More than 12 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers, including any of the following:
• * Rifampin
• * Rifabutin
• * Carbamazepine
• * Phenobarbital
• * Phenytoin
• * Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
• * Efavirenz
• * Tipranavir
• 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
• No concurrent treatment on another clinical trial:
• Participation in non-therapeutic clinical trials allowed
• QTc \< 500 msec