Selumetinib in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Endometrial Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed\* endometrial epithelial carcinoma, including any of the following cell types: * Endometrioid adenocarcinoma * Serous adenocarcinoma * Undifferentiated carcinoma * Clear cell adenocarcinoma * Mixed epithelial carcinoma * Adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified * Mucinous adenocarcinoma * Squamous cell carcinoma * Transitional cell carcinoma * Mesonephric carcinoma * Recurrent or persistent disease that is refractory to curative therapy or established treatments * Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 lesion that can be measured in ≥ 1 dimension (longest dimension to be recorded) * Each lesion must be ≥ 20 mm when measured by conventional techniques (palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, or MRI) OR ≥ 10 mm when measured by spiral CT scan * Must have ≥ 1 target lesion to be used to assess response, as defined by RECIST criteria * Tumors within a previously irradiated field are designated as "non-target" lesions unless progression is documented or a biopsy is obtained to confirm persistence ≥ 90 days following completion of radiotherapy * Must have received 1 prior chemotherapeutic regimen for the management of endometrial carcinoma * Chemotherapy administered as a radiosensitizer in conjunction with primary radiotherapy is considered a systemic chemotherapy regimen * Not eligible for a higher priority GOG protocol, if one exists (e.g., any active phase III GOG protocol for the same patient population) * No prior or concurrent CNS disease (treated or untreated) by physical examination, including primary brain tumor or brain metastases * GOG performance status (PS) 0-2 (for patients who received 1 prior treatment regimen) * GOG PS 0-1 (for patients who received 2 prior treatment regimens) * ANC ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN * SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN * PT/INR ≤ 1.5 OR in-range INR (between 2 and 3) if patient is on a stable dose of therapeutic warfarin * PTT ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Oxygen saturation ≥ 88% on room air * QTc \< 450 msec by EKG * LVEF normal * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 6 months after completion of study therapy * No neuropathy (sensory or motor) \> grade 1 * No active infection requiring antibiotics * Uncomplicated urinary tract infection allowed * No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except for nonmelanoma skin cancer * No serious, non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture * No history of abdominal fistula or gastrointestinal perforation * No intra-abdominal abscess within the past 28 days * No active bleeding or pathological condition that would carry a high risk of bleeding (e.g., bleeding disorder, coagulopathy, or tumor involving major vessels) * No seizures not controlled with standard medical therapy * No clinically significant cardiovascular disease including, but not limited to, any of the following: * Uncontrolled hypertension, defined as systolic BP \> 140 mm Hg or diastolic BP \> 90 mm Hg * Myocardial infarction or unstable angina within the past 6 months * NYHA class II-IV congestive heart failure * Serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication, including atrial fibrillation requiring rate-controlling medication * Peripheral vascular disease ≥ grade 2 * Cerebrovascular accident (i.e., CVA, stroke), transient ischemic attack, or subarachnoidal hemorrhage within the past 6 months * No evidence of serious ventricular arrhythmia (i.e., ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation ≥ 3 beats in a row) by EKG * Concurrent low molecular weight heparin for treatment of venous thromboembolic disease allowed provided patient is considered clinically stable on this regimen * Recovered from prior surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy * At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at the malignant tumor * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) * At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy directed at the malignant tumor, including immunologic agents * One prior cytotoxic regimen for the management of recurrent or persistent endometrial disease allowed * No prior non-cytotoxic chemotherapy for the management of endometrial cancer, except hormonal therapy * No prior anticancer therapy that contraindicates study therapy * No prior MEK inhibitor AZD6244 or other specific MEK/ERK/MAPK pathway targeted therapy * No prior chemotherapy for any abdominal or pelvic tumor other than for the treatment for endometrial cancer within the past 5 years * Prior adjuvant chemotherapy for localized breast cancer allowed provided it was completed \> 3 years ago AND the patient remains free of recurrent or metastatic disease * No prior radiotherapy to any portion of the abdominal cavity or pelvis other than for the treatment of endometrial cancer within the past 5 years * Prior radiotherapy for localized cancer of the breast, head and neck, or skin is allowed provided it was completed \> 3 years ago AND the patient remains free of recurrent or metastatic disease * No concurrent medication that may prolong the QTc interval * No other concurrent investigational therapy * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients