Dovitinib Lactate, Gemcitabine Hydrochloride, and Capecitabine in Treating Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors, Pancreatic Cancer and Biliary Cancers

Part B: Patients with history of another malignancy within the last three years prior to study entry, with exception of adequately treated in-situ carcinoma of the uterine cervix, or skin cancer (such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or non-melanomatous skin cancer)

Patients who have received the last administration of an anti-cancer therapy including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and monoclonal antibodies (but excluding nitrosourea, mitomycin-C, targeted therapy and radiation) =\< 4 weeks prior to starting study drug, or who have not recovered from side effects of such therapy

Patients who have received the last administration of nitrosourea or mitomycin-C =\< 6 weeks prior to starting study drug, or who have not recovered from the side effects of such therapy

Patients who have received targeted therapy (e.g. sunitinib, sorafenib, pazopanib) =\< 2 weeks prior to starting study drug, or who have not recovered from the side effects of such therapy

Patients who have had radiotherapy =\< 4 weeks prior to starting study drug, or =\< weeks prior to starting study drug in the case of localized radiotherapy (e.g. for analgesic purpose or for lytic lesions at risk of fracture), or who have not recovered from radiotherapy toxicities

Patients who have undergone major surgery (e.g. intra-thoracic, intra-abdominal or intra-pelvic), open biopsy or significant traumatic injury =\< 4 weeks prior to starting study drug, or patients who have had minor procedures, percutaneous biopsies or placement of vascular access device =\< 1 week prior to starting study drug, or who have not recovered from side effects of such procedure or injury

History or presence of serious uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmias or presence of serious uncontrolled atrial fibrillation

Clinically significant resting bradycardia

Known left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) assessed by 2-D echocardiogram (ECHO) \< 50% or lower limit of normal (whichever is higher) or multiple gated acquisition scan (MUGA) \< 45% or lower limit of normal (whichever is higher)

Any of the following within 6 months prior to study entry: myocardial infarction (MI), severe/unstable angina, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA), Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

Uncontrolled hypertension defined by a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of \>= 160 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \>= 100 mm Hg, with or without anti-hypertensive medication

Previous pericarditis; clinically significant pleural effusion in the previous 12 months or current ascites requiring two or more interventions/month

Any active gastrointestinal (GI) impairment which, in the opinion of the investigator, would impair or alter the absorption of dovitinib (e.g. ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease)

Positive hemoccult test result within 14 days prior to the start of study treatment

Cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis or chronic persistent hepatitis

Known diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (HIV testing is not mandatory)

Patients who are currently receiving oral anticoagulation treatment with therapeutic doses of warfarin with goal INR \>= 1.5; patients receiving anticoagulation by subcutaneous injection such as heparin, enoxaparain, fondaparinix that are not expected to interact with study medications will be eligible

History of alcoholism, drug addiction, or any psychiatric or psychological condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would impair study compliance

Uncontrolled diarrhea \>= Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade 2

Other concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled concomitant medical conditions (e.g. active or uncontrolled infection) that could cause unacceptable safety risks or compromise compliance with the protocol

Pregnant or breast-feeding women

Women of child-bearing potential, defined as sexually mature women who have not undergone a hysterectomy or who have not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 12 consecutive months (e.g., who has had menses any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months), must have a negative serum pregnancy test =\< 3 days prior to starting study treatment

Women of child-bearing potential, who are biologically able to conceive, not employing two forms of highly effective contraception; male not using at least at least one form of highly effective contraception will be excluded; highly effective contraception (e.g. male condom with spermicide, diaphragm with spermicide, intra-uterine device) must be used by both sexes during the study and must be continued for 8 weeks after the end of study treatment; oral, implantable, or injectable contraceptives may be affected by cytochrome P450 interactions, and are therefore not considered effective for this study

Patients with known brain metastases or who have signs/symptoms attributable to brain metastases and have not been assessed with radiologic imaging to rule out the presence of brain metastases

What this study is about