VNP40101M in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Locally Advanced or Metastatic Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Cytologically confirmed small cell lung cancer Locally advanced or metastatic disease Recurrent or progressive disease after first-line standard cytotoxic therapy Measurable or evaluable disease Brain metastasis allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: ECOG performance status 0-2 Life expectancy ≥ 2 months Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL Bilirubin ≤ 2.5 mg/dL AST and ALT ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver metastases present) Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No active uncontrolled bleeding No active infection Must not require supplemental oxygen at rest No active heart disease No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months No uncontrolled congestive heart failure No uncontrolled arrhythmias No uncontrolled coronary artery disease PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: See Disease Characteristics More than 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy, biologic therapy or chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) Prior radiotherapy within the past 3 weeks allowed if exposure involves no more than 30% of bones with significant bone marrow-producing capabilities (e.g., vertebral bodies and long bones) At least 2 weeks since prior surgery or hormonal therapy Must not require any immediate palliative treatment including surgery Must have recovered from prior anticancer therapy Persistent, stable chronic toxic effects ≤ grade 1 are allowed No more than 1 prior systemic chemotherapy regimen for locally advanced or metastatic disease No other concurrent anticancer therapy No other concurrent investigational agent No concurrent disulfiram