ABC294640 in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

Inclusion Criteria: * PART I: * Patients with histologically confirmed solid organ carcinomas * Tumor progression after receiving standard/approved chemotherapy or as first-line therapy for malignancies where there is no standard therapy * One or more tumors measurable on computed tomography (CT) scan per RECIST 1.1 * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =\< 2 * Life expectancy of at least 3 months * Age \> 18 years * Signed, written Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved informed consent * A negative pregnancy test (if female) * Acceptable liver function: * Bilirubin =\< 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] Grade 2 baseline) * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\]), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase \[SGPT\]) =\< 3 x ULN (CTCAE Grade 1 baseline) * Serum creatinine =\< 1.5 X ULN (CTCAE Grade 1 baseline) * Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1000 cells/mm\^3 * Acceptable hematologic status: * Absolute neutrophil coun \> 1000 cells/mm3 * Platelet count \>= 75,000 (plt/mm\^3) (CTCAE Grade 1 baseline) * Hemoglobin \>= 9 g/dL * Acceptable blood sugar control: * Fasting glucose value \< 160 mg/dL (CTCAE Grade 1 baseline) * Urinalysis: No clinically significant abnormalities * Prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) =\< 1.5 X ULN after correction of nutritional deficiencies that may contribute to prolonged PT/PTT * For men and women of child-producing potential, willingness to use of effective contraceptive methods during the study; if female (or female partner of male subject), is either not of childbearing potential (defined as postmenopausal for \>= 1 year or surgically sterile \[bilateral tubal ligation, bilateral oophorectomy or hysterectomy\]) or practicing 1 of the following medically acceptable methods of birth control and agrees to continue with the regimen throughout the duration of the study: * Oral, implantable or injectable contraceptives for 3 consecutive months before the baseline/randomization visit * Total abstinence from sexual intercourse (\>= 1 complete menstrual cycle before the baseline/randomization visit) * Intrauterine device (IUD) * Double barrier method (condoms, sponge, diaphragm or vaginal ring with spermicidal jellies or cream) * PART II: * To be eligible for inclusion in Part II, patients must meet the eligibility for Part 1 as well as the following: * Patients with histologically confirmed HCC for whom there is no standard/approved chemotherapy Exclusion Criteria: * New York Heart Association Class III or IV, cardiac disease, myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, unstable arrhythmia, or evidence of ischemia on electrocardiogram (ECG) * Active, uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, requiring systemic therapy * Pregnant or nursing women; NOTE: Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; or abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation; should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately * Treatment with radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, or investigational therapy within one month prior to study entry * Unwillingness or inability to comply with procedures required in this protocol * Known infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) * Serious nonmalignant disease (e.g., hydronephrosis, liver failure, or other conditions) that could compromise protocol objectives in the opinion of the Investigator and/or the Sponsor * Patients who are currently receiving any other investigational agent * Patients who are receiving drugs that are sensitive substrates of CYP450 1A2, 3A4, 2C9, 2C19 or 2D6, or strong inhibitors or inducers of all major CYP450 isozymes that cannot be stopped at least 7 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) before starting treatment with ABC294640 and either replaced with another appropriate medication or not given for the duration of the clinical study * Patients who are currently taking Coumadin or Coumadin derivatives * Patients who have received any antineoplastic therapy within 1 month of starting treatment with ABC294640 or who have not adequately recovered from side effects and toxicities of previous antineoplastic therapy