FR901228 in Treating Patients With Refractory Stomach Cancer or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction * Measurable disease * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Refractory\* to at least 1, but no more than 3, of the following first-line agents: * Fluoropyrimidine (e.g., capecitabine or fluorouracil) * Taxane (e.g., paclitaxel or docetaxel) * Platinum (e.g., carboplatin, cisplatin, or oxaliplatin) * No known active brain metastases * Treated brain metastases allowed provided metastases are stable off steroids for ≥ 30 days * Performance status - ECOG 0-2 * Performance status - Karnofsky 60-100% * At least 3 months * WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases are present) * Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min * No congestive heart failure * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No ventricular arrhythmias requiring medication * No angioplasty or vascular stenting within the past 3 months * No unstable angina * No left ventricular hypertrophy by EKG * No known history of serious ventricular arrhythmia (e.g., ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation ≥ 3 beats in a row) * QTc \< 500 msec * LVEF \> 40% by MUGA or echocardiogram * No other significant cardiac disease * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Potassium ≥ 4.0 mmol/L (stable level with no change in supplementation within the past 2 weeks) * Magnesium ≥ 2.0 mg/dL (stable level with no change in supplementation within the past 2 weeks) * No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to study drug * No ongoing or active infection * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No other uncontrolled illness * Prior biological agents allowed * No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF) * No concurrent biologic therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered * No other concurrent chemotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * No concurrent radiotherapy * Prior targeted agents allowed * No other prior or concurrent cytotoxic agents * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No concurrent medications causing QTc prolongation * No concurrent potassium supplementation \> 40 mg/day or magnesium supplementation \> 1 g/week * No concurrent hydrochlorothiazide * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients