Sunitinib in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Leiomyosarcoma of the Uterus

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed leiomyosarcoma of the uterus * Recurrent or persistent disease * Refractory to curative therapy or established treatments * Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques or ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Ascites and pleural effusions are not considered measurable disease * Must have ≥ 1 target lesion to assess response * Tumors in a previously irradiated field are considered non-target lesions unless there is documented progression or biopsy-confirmed persistence ≥ 90 days after completion of radiotherapy * Received at least 1 but no more than 2 prior cytotoxic regimens * Initial treatment may have included high-dose chemotherapy, consolidation, or extended therapy administered after surgery or nonsurgical assessment * Cytotoxic regimens may have included any agent that targets the genetic and/or mitotic apparatus of dividing cells, resulting in dose-limiting toxicity to the bone marrow and/or gastrointestinal mucosa * Not a candidate for a higher priority GOG protocol * No known brain metastases * GOG performance status 0-2 (for patients who have received 1 prior regimen) OR GOG 0-1 (for patients who have received 2 prior regimens) * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN * SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 1.5 times ULN * QTc \< 500 msec * LVEF normal by echocardiogram * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 1 month after completion of study treatment * Patients with a pre-existing thyroid abnormality unable to maintain normal thyroid function with medication are not eligible * No significant EKG abnormalities (i.e., no history of serious ventricular arrhythmia OR EKG with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation ≥ 3 beats in a row) * No sensory or motor neuropathy \> grade 1 * No NYHA class III-IV congestive heart failure * NYHA class II cardiac dysfunction allowed * History of NYHA class II heart failure that is asymptomatic on treatment allowed * No active infection requiring antibiotics * No other invasive malignancies within the past 5 years except for nonmelanoma skin cancer * No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to sunitinib malate * No poorly controlled hypertension (i.e., systolic blood pressure \[BP\] ≥ 140 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mm Hg) * No gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication * No requirement for IV alimentation * No active peptic ulcer disease * No other condition that would impair ability to swallow and retain study drug * No serious or nonhealing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture * No abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 28 days * No cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack within the past year * No myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmia, stable or unstable angina, or symptomatic congestive heart failure within the past year * No pulmonary embolism within the past year * No uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to, any of the following: * Ongoing or active infections * Psychiatric illness or social situations that would preclude study compliance * Recovered from prior surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy * Prior anthracycline exposure and central thoracic radiation that included the heart allowed provided patient has New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II cardiac function * At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas and mitomycin C) or radiotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery * At least 3 years since prior radiotherapy for localized cancer of the breast, head and neck, or skin and no recurrent or metastatic disease * At least 3 years since prior adjuvant chemotherapy for localized cancer of the breast and no recurrent or metastatic disease * No prior radiotherapy to any portion of the abdominal cavity or pelvis unless for treatment of leiomyosarcoma * No prior chemotherapy to any portion of the abdominal cavity or pelvis unless for treatment of leiomyosarcoma * No prior noncytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease * No prior surgical procedures affecting absorption * No coronary or peripheral artery bypass graft or stenting within the past year * No other prior antiangiogenic agents (e.g., bevacizumab, sorafenib, pazopanib, AZD2171, vatalanib, or vascular endothelial growth factor \[VEGF\] Trap) * No other prior cancer treatment that would preclude study treatment * At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors, including any of the following: * Azole fungals (e.g., ketoconazole or itraconazole) * Clarithromycin * Erythromycin * Diltiazem * Verapamil * HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., indinavir, saquinavir, ritonavir, atazanavir, or nelfinavir) * Delavirdine * At least 12 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers, including any of the following: * Rifampin * Rifabutin * Carbamazepine * Phenobarbital * Phenytoin * Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) * Efavirenz * Tipranavir * No concurrent proarrhythmic potential agent, including any of the following: * Terfenadine * Quinidine * Procainamide * Disopyramide * Sotalol * Probucol * Bepridil * Haloperidol * Risperidone * Indapamide * Flecainide * No concurrent therapeutic coumarin-derivative anticoagulants, such as warfarin * Doses ≤ 2 mg daily allowed for prophylaxis of thrombosis * Low molecular weight heparin allowed provided PT INR ≤ 1.5 * No concurrent amifostine or other protective agents * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies