AZD0530 in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer That Did Not Respond to Hormone Therapy

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed prostate cancer with a Gleason score available or interpretable and meeting 1 of the following criteria: * No prior chemotherapy and relatively minimal cancer spread * Only one prior taxane-based chemotherapy for aggressive and/or symptomatic disease * Must have prostate cancer considered to be hormone refractory or androgen independent by one or more of the following criteria (despite androgen deprivation and anti-androgen withdrawal when applicable): * Progression of unidimensionally measurable disease assessed within 28 days prior to initial administration of drug * Progression of evaluable but not measurable disease assessed within 28 days prior to initial administration of drug for PSA evaluation and within 42 days for imaging studies (e.g., bone scans) * Patients must have nonmeasurable disease (e.g., nuclear medicine bone scans) and non-target lesions (e.g., PSA level) assessed within 28 days prior to initial administration of drug * Measurable disease is not required but is allowed * Must be surgically or medically castrated * If the method of castration was luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists (e.g., leuprolide or goserelin), then the patient must be willing to continue the use of LHRH agonists * Serum testosterone must be at castrate levels (\< 50 ng/dL) at least 3 months prior to registration * ECOG performance status 0-2 * WBC \>= 3,000/uL * Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/uL * Platelets \>= 100,000/uL * Hemoglobin \> 9 g/d * Total bilirubin within normal institutional limits * AST/ALT =\< 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal * Creatinine within normal institutional limits OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min * Must agree to use adequate contraception prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation * At least 3 weeks since the completion of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and the patient must have recovered from the side effects of the therapy * At least 28 days since prior non-steroidal anti-androgens (e.g., flutamide) (42 days for bicalutamide or nilutamide) or hormonal treatment (e.g., ketoconazole) and demonstrated progression of disease since the agents were suspended * Concurrent bisphosphonate therapy is allowed Exclusion Criteria: * Known brain metastases * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to AZD0530 * Patients with any of the following conditions that impair the ability to swallow AZD0530 tablets * Gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication or requiring IV alimentation * Prior surgical procedures affecting absorption * Active peptic ulcer disease * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Patients who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier * Use of specifically prohibited CYP3A4-active agents or substances * Prohibited drugs should be discontinued 7 days prior to the administration of the first dose of AZD0530 and for 7 days following discontinuation of AZD0530 * Patients receiving any other investigational agents * No investigational or commercial agents or therapies other than study drugs may be administered with the intent to treat the patient's malignancy * HIV-positive patients on combination antiretroviral therapy