Pazopanib Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Stage IV or Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma, meeting the following criteria: * World Health Organization (WHO) type II-III disease * Stage IV or recurrent disease * Must have failed at least 1 prior line of chemotherapy for metastatic or recurrent disease * Measurable disease, defined as \>= 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion \>= 20 mm by conventional techniques OR \>= 10 mm by spiral CT scan * No known brain metastases * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0-2 or Karnofsky PS 70-100% * Life expectancy \> 3 months * WBC \>= 3,000/mm³ * Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm³ * Bilirubin normal * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =\< 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min * Proteinuria =\< 1+ on 2 consecutive dipsticks taken \>= 1 week apart * Prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) =\< 1.2 times ULN * Systolic blood pressure (BP) =\< 140 mm Hg and diastolic BP =\< 90 mm Hg * Initiation or adjustment of BP medication allowed provided the average of 3 BP readings are \< 140/90 mm Hg prior to study entry * No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to pazopanib hydrochloride or to other study agents * No abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 28 days * No cerebrovascular accident within the past 6 months * No history of any of the following diseases within the past 12 weeks: * Myocardial infarction * Cardiac arrhythmia * Admission for unstable angina * Cardiac angioplasty or stenting * Venous thrombosis * No New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV heart failure * Patients with a history of NYHA class II heart failure are eligible provided they are asymptomatic on treatment * No significant electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities, including QTc prolongation (i.e., QTc \>= 500 msec) * No serious or non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture * No condition that would impair the ability to swallow and retain pazopanib hydrochloride, including any of the following: * Gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication * Requirement for IV alimentation * Prior surgical procedures affecting absorption * Active peptic ulcer disease * No concurrent uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to, the following: * Coagulopathy * Ongoing or active infection * Psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No known allergy to CT contrast agents * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) and recovered * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior surgery * No prior antiangiogenesis therapy * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No concurrent medications or substances known to affect or with the potential to affect the activity or pharmacokinetics of pazopanib hydrochloride, as determined by the Principal Investigator * No concurrent medications that have the potential to interact with the cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 * No concurrent therapeutic warfarin * Low molecular weight heparin or prophylactic low-dose warfarin allowed * No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients