Evaluation of Food Effect on Pharmacokinetics of Vismodegib

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed advanced malignancies (except for leukemias) refractory to standard of care therapy, or for whom no standard of care therapy is available * Measurable or non-measurable disease * An anticipated life expectancy \> 3 months * Karnofsky performance status of \> 70% * Leukocytes \>= 3,000/mcL * Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mcL * Platelets \>= 100,000/mcL * Total bilirubin within normal institutional limits * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase \[SGPT\]) =\< 2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal * Creatinine =\< 1.5 X institutional upper limit of normal * Women of child-bearing potential and men must use two forms of contraception (i.e., barrier contraception and one other method of contraception) at least 4 weeks prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for at least 12 months post-treatment; should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately * Women of childbearing potential are required to have a negative serum pregnancy test (with a sensitivity of at least 25 mIU/mL) within 48 hours prior to the first dose of GDC-0449 (serum or urine); a pregnancy test (serum or urine) will be administered every 4 weeks if their menstrual cycles are regular or every 2 weeks if their cycles are irregular while on study within the 24-hour period prior to the administration of GDC-0449; a positive urine test must be confirmed by a serum pregnancy test; prior to dispensing GDC-0449, the investigator must confirm and document the patient's use of two contraceptive methods, dates of negative pregnancy test, and confirm the patient's understanding of the teratogenic potential of GDC-0449 * Female subjects of childbearing potential are defined as follows: * Patients with regular menses * Patients, after menarche with amenorrhea, irregular cycles, or using a contraceptive method that precludes withdrawal bleeding * Women who have had tubal ligation * Female subjects may be considered to NOT be of childbearing potential for the following reasons: * The patient has undergone total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or bilateral oophorectomy * The patient is medically confirmed to menopausal (no menstrual period) for 24 consecutive months * Pre-pubertal females; the parent or guardian of young female patients who have not yet started menstruation should verify that menstruation has not begun; if a young female patient reaches menarche during the study, then she is to be considered as a woman of childbearing potential from that time forward * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) prior to entering the study or those who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier * Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents * Patients with known brain metastases should be excluded from this clinical trial * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to GDC-0449 or other agents used in study * Patients with malabsorption syndrome or other condition that would interfere with intestinal absorption; patients must be able to swallow capsules * Patients with clinically important history of liver disease, including viral or other hepatitis or cirrhosis are ineligible * Patients with uncontrolled hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, hyponatremia or hypokalemia defined as less than the lower limit of normal for the institution, despite adequate electrolyte supplementation are excluded from this study * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Pregnant women are excluded from this study; breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with GDC-0449 * Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients on combination antiretroviral therapy are ineligible * Patients with medical conditions that require the following medications will be excluded * Strong inhibitors of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) (clarithromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, nefazodone, erythromycin, grapefruit juice, verapamil, and diltiazem) * Strong inhibitors of cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) (fluconazole and amiodarone) * Inducers of CYP3A4 (carbamazepine, dexamethasone, modafinil, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, pioglitazone, rifabutin, rifampin, St. John's wort, troglitazone) * Inducers of CYP2C9 (rifampin, and secobarbital) * Patients who have a medical condition or dietary restrictions that prevent him or her from fasting for at least 10 hours (overnight) or eating a high calorie meal * Any ambiguity in the inclusion/exclusion criteria should be clarified and resolved by communication with the study investigators