Topotecan and Vinorelbine in Treating Patients With Recurrent Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed lung cancer All histologic types eligible Recurrent or progressive disease after ≥ 1 prior chemotherapy regimen with or without radiotherapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: ECOG performance status (PS) ≤ 2 Karnofsky PS ≥ 60% Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other active invasive malignancy No uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to: Ongoing or active infection Symptomatic congestive heart failure Unstable angina pectoris Cardiac arrhythmia No psychiatric illness/social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to topotecan or vinorelbine ditartrate PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: See Disease Characteristics At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy No prior therapy with topotecan or vinorelbine ditartrate No chemotherapy within the past 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) Recovered from agents administered > 4 weeks earlier No other concurrent investigational agents No concurrent palliative radiotherapy No other concurrent anticancer therapies or agents No concurrent hormones or other chemotherapy except for the following: Steroids for adrenal failure Hormones for nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes) Intermittent dexamethasone as an antiemetic