Sirolimus and Vismodegib in Treating Patients With Solid Tumors or Pancreatic Cancer That is Metastatic or Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

COHORT I (DOSE ESCALATION): Known standard therapy for the patient's disease that is potentially curative or definitely capable of extending life expectancy

Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes mellitus or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements

Any of the following prior therapies:

* Chemotherapy =\< 4 weeks prior to registration

* Mitomycin C/nitrosoureas =\< 6 weeks prior to registration

* Immunotherapy =\< 4 weeks prior to registration

* Biologic therapy =\< 4 weeks prior to registration

* Radiation therapy =\< 4 weeks prior to registration

* Radiation to \> 25% of bone marrow

Failure to fully recover from acute, reversible effects of prior chemotherapy regardless of interval since last treatment

New York Heart Association classification III or IV

Uncontrolled Seizure Disorder

Central nervous system (CNS) metastases if not stable for at least 2-3 months based on imaging, clinical assessment, use of steroids, or seizure disorder

Any of the following:

* Pregnant women

* Nursing women

* This study involves an investigational agent whose genotoxic, mutagenic and teratogenic effects on the developing fetus and newborn are unknown

Other concurrent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, any ancillary therapy considered investigational (utilized for a non-Food and Drug Administration \[FDA\]-approved indication and in the context of a research investigation) or receiving any other investigational agent which would be considered as a treatment for the primary neoplasm

Receiving any medications or substances that are strong or moderate inhibitors of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CPY450 3A4); use of the following strong or moderate inhibitors are prohibited:

Strong Inhibitors of CYP3A4: Indinavir, Nelfinavir, Ritonavir, Clarithromycin, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole, Nefazodone, Saquinavir, Telithromycin

* Moderate Inhibitors of CYP3A4: Aprepitant, Erythromycin, Fluconazole, Grapefruit juice, Verapamil, Diltiazem

Receiving any medications or substances that are inducers of CYP450 3A4

* Inducers of CYP3A4: Efavirenz, Nevirapine, Carbamazepine, Modafinil, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin, Pioglitazone, Rifabutin, Rifampin, St. John's wort

Receiving any medications or substances that are strong or moderate inhibitors of CYP450 CYP2C8

* Strong or Moderate Inhibitors of CYP2C8: Gemfibrozil, Trimethoprim

Receiving any medications or substances that are inducers of CYP450 2C8

* Inducer of CYP2C8: Rifampin

Receiving any medications or substances that are strong or moderate inhibitors of CYP450 CYP2C9

* Strong or Moderate Inhibitors of CYP2C9: Fluconazole, Amiodarone

Receiving any medications or substances that are inducers of CYP450 2C9

* Inducers of CYP2C9: Rifampin, Secobarbital

Immunocompromised patients (other than that related to the use of corticosteroids) including patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) treatment

Active other malignancy, excepting non-melanotic skin cancer or carcinoma-in situ (e.g. of cervix, breast prostate); if there is a history of prior malignancy, they must not be receiving other specific treatment (other than hormonal therapy) for their cancer

History of myocardial infarction =\< 6 months, or congestive heart failure requiring use of ongoing maintenance therapy for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias

Abnormalities of the cornea based on history (e.g., dry eye syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome), congenital abnormality (e.g., Fuch's dystrophy), abnormal slit-lamp examination using a vital dye (e.g., fluorescein, Bengal Rose), and/or an abnormal corneal sensitivity test (Schirmer test or similar tear production test)

Prior therapy with a hedgehog inhibitor

What this study is about