Onalespib, Dabrafenib, and Trametinib in Treating Patients With BRAF-Mutant Melanoma or Solid Tumors That Are Metastatic or Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of onalespib when given together with dabrafenib and trametinib in treating patients with BRAF-mutant melanoma or solid tumors that have spread to another place in the body (metastatic) or cannot be removed by surgery. Onalespib, dabrafenib, and trametinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), toxicity, and safety profile of onalespib (AT13387) given weekly in combination with dabrafenib and trametinib in patients with BRAF-mutant metastatic or unresectable solid tumors.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To obtain preliminary estimates of the objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS) and document the 6-month PFS and 1-year overall survival (OS) of patients with BRAF-mutant metastatic or unresectable melanoma treated with AT13387 given weekly in combination with dabrafenib and trametinib.

II. To describe the pharmacokinetics of treatment with dabrafenib, trametinib, and AT13387.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of onalespib. Four dose levels, plus a fallback dose, are specified in the protocol and are summarized below. The trial is based on a standard 3+3 design with dose escalation beginning in dose level 1 (DL1). In a 3+3 design," three patients are initially enrolled into a given dose cohort. If there is no dose limiting toxicity (DLT) observed in any of these subjects, the trial proceeds to enroll additional subjects into the next higher dose cohort. If one subject develops a DLT at a specific dose, an additional three subjects are enrolled into that same dose cohort. Development of DLTs in more than 1 of 6 subjects in a specific dose cohort suggests that the maximum total dose (MTD) has been exceeded, and further dose escalation is not pursued. Fallback dose level -1 is initiated if more than 1 of 6 subjects in dose level 1 (starting dose) develop DLTs.

Patients receive dabrafenib orally (PO) twice daily (BID), trametinib PO once daily (QD) on days 1-28, and onalespib intravenously (IV) over 1 hour on days 1, 8, and 15. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Dose Level -1 (fallback dose):

* Dabrafenib = 75 mg
* Trametinib = 1 mg
* Onalespib = 180 mg/m\^2

Dose Level 1 (starting dose):

* Dabrafenib = 150 mg
* Trametinib = 1 mg
* Onalespib = 180 mg/m\^2

Dose Level 2:

* Dabrafenib = 150 mg
* Trametinib = 2 mg
* Onalespib = 180 mg/m\^2

Dose Level 3:

* Dabrafenib = 150 mg
* Trametinib = 2 mg
* Onalespib = 220 mg/m\^2

Dose Level 4:

* Dabrafenib = 150 mg
* Trametinib = 2 mg
* Onalespib = 260 mg/m\^2

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 28 days and every 6 months for up to 2 years.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must have histologically confirmed, BRAF-mutant (V600E/K) solid tumor (molecularly confirmed using Cobas assay or a comparable Food and Drug Administration \[FDA\]-approved assay) that is metastatic or unresectable, have received and tolerated prior BRAF or BRAF and MEK inhibitor (BRAF targeted) therapy at full dose or not previously received BRAF targeted therapy, and for which standard curative measures do not exist or are no longer effective

  * If test at Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA)-certified laboratory (lab) used a non-FDA approved method, information about the assay must be provided; (FDA approved tests for BRAF V600 mutations in melanoma include: THxID BRAF Detection Kit and Cobas 4800 BRAF V600 Mutation Test)
* Patients must have measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded for non-nodal lesions and short axis for nodal lesions) as \>= 20 mm with conventional techniques or as \>= 10 mm with spiral computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or calipers by clinical exam
* Prior therapy is allowed; patients may have received any number of prior lines of therapy, including treatment with a BRAF and/or MEK inhibitor
* All prior anti-cancer treatment-related toxicities must be less than or equal to grade 1 according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5 (CTCAE version 5.0; National Cancer Institute \[NCI\], 2017) at the time of enrollment; a notable exception are endocrinopathies caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors that are appropriately treated with medical management (e.g. hormone replacement therapy, anti-diabetic agents)
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =\< 1 (Karnofsky \>= 70%)
* Life expectancy of greater than 3 months
* Leukocytes \>= 3,000/mcL
* Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,200/mcL
* Hemoglobin \>= 9 g/dl (patients may be transfused to this level)
* Platelets \>= 100,000/mcL
* Total bilirubin \< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal OR \> 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal allowed if direct bilirubin is within normal range
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase \[SGPT\]) =\< 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal
* Prothrombin time (PT) \< 1.3 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
* International normalized ratio (INR) \< 1.3 x ULN
* Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) \< 1.3 x ULN
* Serum creatinine =\< 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance \>= 50 mL/min/1.73 m\^2
* Potassium \> 3 and \< 5.5 mEq/L
* Magnesium \> 1.2 and \< 2.5 mEq
* Left ventricular \>= institutional lower limit of normal (LLN) by echocardiogram (ECHO) ejection fraction
* Women of child-bearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 14 days prior to randomization and agree to use effective contraception (barrier method of birth control, or abstinence; hormonal contraception is not allowed) from 14 days prior to randomization, throughout the treatment period, and for 4 months after the last dose of study treatment; should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately
* Therapeutic level dosing of warfarin can be used with close monitoring of PT/INR by the site; exposure may be decreased due to enzyme induction when on treatment, thus warfarin dosing may need to be adjusted based upon PT/INR; consequently, when discontinuing dabrafenib, warfarin exposure may be increased and thus close monitoring via PT/INR and warfarin dose adjustments must be made as clinically appropriate; prophylactic low dose warfarin may be given to maintain central catheter patency
* Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
* Able to swallow and retain oral medication, and must not have any clinically significant gastrointestinal abnormalities that may alter absorption such as malabsorption syndrome or major resection of the stomach or bowels

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients who received prior systemic anti-cancer therapy (chemotherapy with delayed toxicity, extensive radiation therapy, immunotherapy, biologic therapy, or vaccine therapy) within the last 3 weeks prior to day 1 of cycle 1; patients are permitted to be on dabrafenib and trametinib standard of care at start of therapy without wash-out period prior to day 1 of cycle 1; dosing will change to protocol determined dose levels on day 1 of cycle 1
* Patients must not have received prior HSP90 inhibitor therapy
* Patients who are receiving any other investigational agents; patients who have taken an investigational drug within 28 days or 5 half-lives (minimum 14 days), whichever is shorter, prior to randomization
* Patients with history of activating RAS mutation positive tumors regardless of interval from current study; however, patients may have concurrent BRAFV600 and RAS mutations in the tumor to be treated with protocol therapy
* Patients must have no clinical evidence of leptomeningeal or brain metastasis causing spinal cord compression that are symptomatic or untreated or not stable for \>= 4 weeks (must be documented by imaging) or requiring corticosteroids; subjects on a stable dose of corticosteroids \> 1 month or who have been off of corticosteroids for at least 2 weeks can be enrolled with approval of the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) medical monitor; subjects must also be off of enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants for \> 4 weeks
* History of known immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to AT13387, dabrafenib, or trametinib, or excipients or to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active serious infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, uncontrolled diabetes, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
* Pregnant women are excluded from this study; breastfeeding should be discontinued prior to the mother being treated with the study drugs
* Patients known to be human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients and on combination antiretroviral therapy are ineligible
* History of another malignancy other than the study indication under this trial within 5 years of study enrollment; does not apply to subjects who underwent successful definitive resection of basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, superficial bladder cancer, in situ cervical cancer, in situ breast cancer, or other in situ cancers

  * Exception: patients with history of RAS mutation-positive tumors are not eligible regardless of interval from the current study; prospective RAS testing is not required; however, if the results of previous RAS testing are known, they must be used in assessing eligibility
* History of interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis
* History or current evidence/risk of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) or retinal pigment epithelial detachment (RPED):

  * History of RVO or RPED, or predisposing factors to RVO or RPED (e.g., uncontrolled glaucoma or ocular hypertension, uncontrolled systemic disease such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or history of hyperviscosity or hypercoagulability syndromes)
  * Visible retinal pathology as assessed by ophthalmic exam that is considered a risk factor for RVO or RPED such as evidence of new optic disc cupping, evidence of new visual field defects, and intraocular pressure \> 21 mm mercury (Hg)
* History or evidence of cardiovascular risk including any of the following:

  * An average of the three most recent QT intervals corrected for heart rate using the Bazett's formula QTcB \>= 460 msec
  * History or evidence of current clinically significant uncontrolled arrhythmias (exception: patients with controlled atrial fibrillation for \> 30 days prior to randomization are eligible)
  * History of acute coronary syndromes (including myocardial infarction and unstable angina), coronary angioplasty, or stenting within 6 months prior to randomization
  * History or evidence of current \>= class II congestive heart failure as defined by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification system
  * Treatment-refractory hypertension defined as a blood pressure of systolic \> 140 mmHg and/or diastolic \> 90 mmHg which cannot be controlled by anti-hypertensive therapy
  * Abnormal cardiac valve morphology (\>= grade 2) documented by echocardiogram (subjects with grade 1 abnormalities \[i.e., mild regurgitation/stenosis\] can be entered on study); subjects with moderate valvular thickening should not be entered on study
  * Prior placement of an implantable defibrillator
  * History of or identification on screening imaging of intracardiac metastases
* No known active infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), or hepatitis C virus (HCV); patients with chronic or cleared HBV infection and HCV infection are eligible
* Current use of a prohibited medication; the following medications or non-drug therapies are prohibited:

  * Other anti-cancer therapy while on study treatment; (note: megestrol \[Megace\] if used as an appetite stimulant is allowed)
  * Concurrent treatment with bisphosphonates is permitted; however, treatment must be initiated prior to the first dose of study therapy; prophylactic use of bisphosphonates in patients without bone disease is not permitted, except for the treatment of osteoporosis
  * The concurrent use of all herbal supplements is prohibited during the study (including, but not limited to, St. John's wort, kava, ephedra \[ma huang\], ginkgo biloba, dehydroepiandrosterone \[DHEA\], yohimbe, saw palmetto, or ginseng)
  * Current use of a prohibited medication; patients receiving any medications or substances that are strong inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A or CYP2C8 are ineligible; current use of, or intended ongoing treatment with: herbal remedies (e.g., St. John's wort), or strong inhibitors or inducers of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) or breast cancer resistance protein 1 (Bcrp1) should also be excluded