Gamma-Secretase Inhibitor RO4929097 in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Unresectable Solid Malignancies

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed solid malignancy * Metastatic or unresectable disease * Standard curative or palliative measures do not exist or are no longer effective * Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 lesion that can be accurately measured in ≥ 1 dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as ≥ 20 mm with conventional techniques or as ≥ 10 mm with spiral CT scan * No known brain metastases * ECOG performance status (PS) 0-1 (Karnofsky PS 70-100%) * Life expectancy \> 12 weeks * Leukocytes ≥ 3,000/mm\^3 * ANC ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL * Total bilirubin normal * AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal * Serum creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min * No uncontrolled hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, hyponatremia, hypophosphatemia, or hypokalemia, defined as \< lower limit of normal despite adequate electrolyte supplementation * QTc ≤ 450 msec in males and a QTc ≤ 470 in females, as measured by ECG using Bazett's formula * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use 2 forms of contraception (i.e., barrier contraception and 1 other method of contraception) for ≥ 4 weeks before, during, and for ≥ 12 months after completion of study treatment * Willing to undergo 2 tumor biopsies (unless medically contraindicated) * Able to swallow medication * No malabsorption syndrome or other condition that would interfere with intestinal absorption * No diarrhea ≥ grade 2 not under control with standard antidiarrhea medications * No uncontrolled concurrent illness including, but not limited to, any of the following: * Ongoing or active infection * Symptomatic congestive heart failure * Unstable angina pectoris * Cardiac arrhythmia other than chronic, stable atrial fibrillation * Psychiatric illness or social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * No history of risk factors for QT interval prolongation including, but not limited to, a family or personal history of any of the following: * Long QT syndrome * A history of torsades de pointes * Recurrent syncope without known etiology * Sudden unexpected death * Female patients may not donate ova during or after study treatment * No blood donation during and for ≥ 12 months after completion of study treatment * No serologic positivity for hepatitis A, B, or C; history of liver disease; or other forms of hepatitis or cirrhosis * No HIV-positive patients on combination antiretroviral therapy * No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to gamma-secretase inhibitor RO4929097 or other agents used in this study * No other concurrent agents or therapies administered with the intent to treat the patient's malignancy * No prior gamma-secretase inhibitors * Any number of prior treatment regimens allowed * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy or systemic therapy (6 weeks for prior carmustine or mitomycin C) * Exceptions may be made for low-dose, nonmyelosuppressive radiotherapy for symptomatic palliation * Recovered from the adverse events due to prior therapy to \< CTCAE grade 2 (except alopecia) * No other concurrent investigational agents * No concurrent medications with narrow therapeutic indices that are metabolized by cytochrome P450, including warfarin sodium (Coumadin®) * No concurrent medications that are strong inducers/inhibitors or substrates of CYP3A4 * No concurrent medications or food that may interfere with the metabolism of gamma-secretase inhibitor RO4929097 including ketoconazole, grapefruit, or grapefruit juice * No antiarrhythmics or other concurrent medications with known potential to prolong QT interval