3-AP and Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer Metastatic disease Progressive disease after no more than 2 prior cytotoxic regimens containing at least 1 of the following drugs: Cisplatin Carboplatin Taxane Vinorelbine Measurable disease No CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy More than 3 months Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL (transfusion allowed) Hepatic Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL ALT and AST no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver metastases present) Chronic viral hepatitis allowed Renal Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months No uncontrolled congestive heart failure No uncontrolled coronary artery disease No uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias Pulmonary No dyspnea at rest No supplemental oxygen dependence Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study participation No active infection No other prior or concurrent malignancy except carcinoma in situ of the cervix previously treated by cone biopsy and/or resection, nonmetastatic basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, or any stage I malignancy curatively resected more than 5 years ago No other concurrent life-threatening illness PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Prior non-cytotoxic biologic regimens allowed (e.g., vaccines, antibodies, cytokines, or small molecule cell signaling inhibitors) Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered No prior gemcitabine No prior 3-AP Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery More than 3 weeks since prior surgery and recovered Other More than 3 weeks since prior non-cytotoxic regimens