Combination Chemotherapy Plus Oblimersen in Treating Patients With Previously Untreated Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: Histologically or cytologically confirmed extensive stage small cell lungcancer No active CNS disease CNS metastasis allowed provided patient completed 1 course of CNS radiotherapy Performance status - ECOG 0-2 Performance status - Karnofsky 60-100% More than 2 months WBC at least 3,000/mm^3 Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Bilirubin normal AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) PT and PTT no greater than 1.5 times ULN Creatinine normal Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min No symptomatic congestive heart failure No unstable angina pectoris No cardiac arrhythmia Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No prior allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to study agents No other uncontrolled concurrent illness No ongoing or active infection No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance See Disease Characteristics At least 1 week since prior CNS radiotherapy and recovered No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of skeleton No other prior anticancer therapy No other concurrent investigational agents No other concurrent anticancer therapy No concurrent anticoagulation therapy No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients