Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage IV Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed stage IV adenocarcinoma of the lung that is unlikely to respond to existing therapy and for which no curative therapy exists Measurable disease by MRI or CT scan PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: At least 2 months Hematopoietic: WBC at least 2,000/mm^3 Platelet count at least 50,000/mm^3 Hepatic: No hepatic insufficiency Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL SGOT/SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL No renal insufficiency No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium Cardiovascular: No chronic heart disease that would preclude study treatment No history of chronic heart failure No uncontrolled hypertension No history of congestive heart failure No history of cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium Pulmonary: No lung disease that would preclude study treatment No serious lung disease (e.g., severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Neurologic: No neurological disease that would preclude study treatment Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation No gastrointestinal or psychiatric disease that would preclude study treatment No active infection PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered No concurrent immunomodulatory agents Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered No concurrent antineoplastic agents Endocrine therapy: Concurrent corticosteroids allowed Radiotherapy: At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: Not specified Other: Prior cytodifferentiating agents allowed No prior antineoplaston therapy