DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ)

  • Tumors of the GEJ must be sub-specified as type I, II, or III using the Siewert classification

• Metastatic or locally advanced disease

  • Patients with local/regional disease only, must have unresectable disease
• Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 lesion that can be accurately measured in ≥ 1 dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques or as ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 OR Karnofsky PS 60-100%
• Life expectancy > 3 months
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Leukocytes ≥ 3,000/mm³
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Hemoglobin > 9 g/dL
• Total bilirubin normal
• AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
• Urine protein creatinine ratio < 1.0 OR urine protein < 1,000 mg by 24-hour urine collection
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

• No condition that potentially impairs the ability to swallow or absorb AZD0530, including any of the following:

  • Gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication or a requirement for IV alimentation
  • Active peptic ulcer disease
  • Short gut syndrome
  • Malabsorption syndrome of any type
  • Total or partial bowel obstruction
  • Inability to tolerate oral medications
• No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to AZD0530
• No QTc prolongation (defined as a QTc interval ≥ 460 msec) or other significant ECG abnormalities
• No poorly controlled hypertension (i.e., systolic blood pressure [BP] ≥ 140 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mm Hg)
• No history of ischemic heart disease, including myocardial infarction

• No concurrent cardiac dysfunction including, but not limited to, any of the following:

  • Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  • Unstable angina pectoris
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
• No other concurrent uncontrolled illness, including ongoing or active infection or psychiatric illness/social situations, that would limit compliance with study requirements

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Prior chemotherapy allowed provided it was administered as part of initial curative intent therapy (i.e., neoadjuvant therapy, concurrent therapy, and/or adjuvant therapy) in combination with surgery (with or without radiotherapy)

  • At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered
• No CYP3A4 active agents or substances for ≥ 7 days before, during, and for ≥ 7 days after completion of study treatment
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients