PhII Study STA-9090 as Second or Third-Line Therapy for Metastatic Pancreas Cancer

RATIONALE: Heat shock protein (HSP)90 inhibitor STA-9090 may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the proteins needed for cell growth. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well hsp90 inhibitor STA-9090 works as second- or third-line therapy for the treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To measure the 8-week disease control (CR + PR + SD) rate of therapy with STA-9090 in patients with metastatic pancreas cancer who have failed (either progressed or did not tolerate) one or two lines of prior therapy. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine response rate (by RECIST criteria v1.1). II. To determine overall survival. III. To evaluate the safety and toxicity profile in this patient population. TERTIARY OBJECTIVES: I. We will obtain from all patients blood samples pre and post therapy (after 1 week of therapy) and isolate serum for interrogation for a variety of biomarkers (eg AKT, Stat3, Caspase 3). OUTLINE: Patients receive Hsp90 inhibitor STA-9090 intravenous (IV) over 1 hour on days 1, 8, and 15. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 4 weeks.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Microscopic confirmation of a diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma (pathology may be from either the primary tumor or metastatic lesion) or poorly differentiated carcinoma of the pancreas s/p 1 or 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease (excluding neuroendocrine tumors, periampullary tumors and cystadenocarcinoma)
* Patients who received adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy will be eligible if they have progressed within 6 months of completing therapy and have not received a metastatic regimen or if they progressed \> 6 months after completing therapy and have received 1-2 lines of therapy for metastatic disease
* Measurable disease by RECIST criteria
* ECOG PS 0 or 1
* Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
* Creatinine =\< 2.0 mg/dl
* Total bilirubin =\< 2.0 mg/dl
* AST and ALT =\< 2.5 x ULN in absence of liver metastasis; =\< 5 x ULN in presence of liver metastasis
* Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test performed within 7 days prior to the start of therapy
* Women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (barrier method of birth control) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation
* Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent; a signed informed consent must be obtained prior to any study-specific procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

* Primary brain tumors or active brain metastases; however, patients with a history of CNS metastases will be eligible if they have been treated and are stable for 4 weeks after completion of treatment, with image documentation required, and must be either off steroids or on a stable dose of steroids for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to enrollment
* History of stroke within 6 months of treatment or other significant neurological limitations
* History of or current coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, angioplasty of coronary bypass surgery
* History of or current uncontrolled dysrhythmias, or requirement for antiarrhythmic medications, or Grade 2 or greater left bundle branch block
* New York Heart Association class II/III/IV congestive heart failure with a history of dyspnea, orthopnea or edema that required current treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta-blockers or diuretics
* Current or prior radiation therapy to the left hemithorax
* Major surgery within 4 weeks prior to entering the study
* Poor venous access for study drug administration or would require a peripheral or central indwelling catheter for study drug administration; study drug administration via indwelling catheters is prohibited at this time
* Use of any investigational agents within 4 weeks prior to entering the study
* History of severe allergic reactions to excipients (e.g., Polyethylene glycol 300 and Polysorbate 80), including severe hypersensitivity reactions defined as \>= Grade 3 based on NCI CTCAE version 4.0
* Treatment with chronic immunosuppressants (e.g., cyclosporine following transplantation or systemic steroids for treatment of autoimmune disease), however, patients may receive steroids for stable CNS metastases as described in exclusion criterion 1
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, ventricular arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
* Other medications, or severe acute/chronic medical or psychiatric condition, or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk associated with study participation or study drug administration, or may interfere with the interpretation of study results, and in the judgment of the investigator would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study
* Ventricular ejection fraction (Ef) =\< 55%
* Baseline QTc \> 470 msec or previous history of QT prolongation while taking other medications
* Patients who received more than two lines of prior therapy for metastatic disease, neoadjuvant or post-op adjuvant therapy is not considered one line of therapy as long as there was \> 6 months of disease-free interval
* Pregnant or breast-feeding females