Combination Chemotherapy and Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed extensive stage small cell lung cancer Incurable but amenable to treatment with chemotherapy c-kit positive by immunohistochemistry of original biopsy or other metastatic site At least one unidimensionally measurable lesion > 20 mm by conventional techniques or > 10 mm by spiral CT scan No prior radiotherapy to target measurable lesion(s), unless there is documented disease progression No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age Not specified Performance status ECOG 0-1 OR Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy More than 6 weeks Hematopoietic WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3 Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic Bilirubin normal AST and/or ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal Renal Creatinine normal OR Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min Cardiovascular No symptomatic congestive heart failure No unstable angina pectoris No cardiac arrhythmia Gastrointestinal No concurrent untreated upper gastrointestinal bleeding that has not been fully investigated No gastrointestinal disease that would impair drug absorption Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception prior to, during, and for 3 months after study participation No history of ototoxicity No history of peripheral neuropathy No traumatic injury within the past 21 days No ongoing or active infection No other concurrent significant medical condition that would preclude study participation No concurrent psychiatric condition or social situation that would preclude study compliance No other malignancy within the past 5 years except treated nonmelanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ, or stage A prostate cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics No prior chemotherapy No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy See Disease Characteristics More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of marrow Surgery More than 3 weeks since prior major surgery No prior surgical procedure impairing absorption Other No prior c-kit-targeted therapy No concurrent therapeutic dose of warfarin Mini-dose warfarin for prophylaxis and low-molecular weight heparin allowed No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients No other concurrent investigational agents No concurrent amifostine No other concurrent anticancer therapy