DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven uveal melanoma

  • Stage IV disease
• Must have documented disease progression during or after ≤ 1 prior systemic treatment

• Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques or

  • 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• No tumor involving major vessels

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Zubrod performance status 0-1
• Absolute neutrophil count > 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3
• Creatinine ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin ≤ 2 times ULN
• SGOT or SGPT ≤ 2 times ULN (5 times ULN if hepatic metastasis present)
• INR in range (usually between 2 and 3)
• No active bleeding
• No bleeding diathesis, active coagulopathy, or pathological condition that carries a high risk of bleeding
• No known varices
• No uncontrolled hypertension with systolic blood pressure (BP) > 140 mm Hg or diastolic BP > 90 mm Hg
• No significant traumatic injury within the past 21 days
• No condition (e.g., gastrointestinal tract disease) affecting ability to take oral medication or requiring IV alimentation
• No active, uncontrolled peptic ulcer disease
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No prior malignancy except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, adequately treated stage I or II cancer for which the patient is currently in complete remission, or any other cancer for which the patient has been disease-free for 5 years

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics

• At least 28 days since prior systemic treatment for this disease comprising 1 of the following:

  • Single chemotherapy agent/regimen
  • Single immunotherapy agent/regimen
  • Single investigational treatment agent/regimen
• At least 21 days since prior major surgery
• No prior sorafenib or any other agents targeting raf kinase or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or VEGF receptor
• No prior surgical procedures affecting absorption

• No concurrent systemic corticosteroid therapy

  • Topical and/or inhaled steroids are allowed
• No concurrent cytochrome P450 enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (e.g., phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital), rifampin, or Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
• No prophylactic granulocyte/platelet colony-stimulating factors during the first course of treatment

• Concurrent full-dose oral anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) are allowed provided all of the following criteria are met:

  • In-range INR
  • Stable dose of oral anticoagulant
  • No active bleeding or high risk of bleeding