Bortezomib in Treating Patients With Unresectable Locally Advanced or Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Bile Duct or Gallbladder

Inclusion Criteria: * Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mm3 * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * Chemotherapy administered solely as a radiosensitizer or as adjuvant therapy and investigational or targeted therapies (i.e., inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor) will not count toward the maximum of 2 prior regimens allowed * Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile duct or gallbladder: * Locally advanced or metastatic disease * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion \>=20 mm by conventional techniques OR \>= 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Not amenable to curative surgical resection * No known brain metastases * Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 * Life expectancy: * More than 12 weeks * Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm3 * WBC \>= 3,000/mm3 * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) \[Note: Biliary shunting or stenting allowed to achieve the required bilirubin and transaminase levels\] * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN \[Note: Biliary shunting or stenting allowed to achieve the required bilirubin and transaminase levels\] * Creatinine within ULN OR Creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No symptomatic cardiac arrhythmia within the past 4 weeks * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No underlying neuropathy \>= grade 2 * No history of allergic reaction to boron, mannitol, or bortezomib * No active or ongoing infection * No concurrent uncontrolled illness * No medical or psychiatric condition that would preclude study participation * No prophylactic granulocyte or platelet growth factors (filgrastim \[G-CSF\] or sargramostim \[GM-CSF\]) * Prior chemotherapy as a radiosensitizer (e.g., fluorouracil or gemcitabine) with radiotherapy is allowed as adjuvant therapy after resection for locally advanced disease provided there is evidence of disease progression * No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for locally advanced or metastatic disease * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies * No other concurrent investigational agents