Pazopanib Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Metastatic Kidney Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histological confirmation of non-clear cell renal cancer (including chromophilic \[papillary\], chromophobic, oncocytic, sarcomatoid, collecting duct \[Bellini's duct\]), translocation-type carcinoma or medullary renal cell carcinoma * Up to one prior treatment for metastatic non clear cell carcinoma is allowed prior to registration as long as the agent used to treat was not pazopanib * Measurable or non-measurable metastatic disease * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0, 1 or 2 * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1500 * Platelets (PLT) \>= 100,000 * Hemoglobin (HgB) \> 9.0 g/dL; NOTE: subjects may not have had a transfusion within 7 days of registration * Total bilirubin \< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN); NOTE: concomitant elevations in bilirubin above 1.0 x ULN is not permitted * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) =\< 2.5 x ULN; NOTE: concomitant elevations in ALT/AST above 1.0 x ULN is not permitted * Urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPC) \< 1; NOTE: if UPC \>= 1, then a 24-hour urine protein must be assessed; subjects must have a 24-hour urine protein value \< 1 g to be eligible * Prothrombin time (PT) or international normalized ratio (INR) =\< 1.2 x ULN; NOTE: subjects receiving anticoagulant therapy are eligible if their INR is stable and within the recommended range for the desired level of anticoagulation * A female is eligible to enter and participate in this study if she …