Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage IV Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed stage IV adenocarcinoma of the lung that is unlikely to respond to existing therapy and for which no curative therapy exists
Measurable disease by MRI or CT scan

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

WBC at least 2,000/mm^3
Platelet count at least 50,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

No hepatic insufficiency
Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
SGOT/SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
No renal insufficiency
No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

No chronic heart disease that would preclude study treatment
No history of chronic heart failure
No uncontrolled hypertension
No history of congestive heart failure
No history of cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Pulmonary:

No lung disease that would preclude study treatment
No serious lung disease (e.g., severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

Neurologic:

No neurological disease that would preclude study treatment

Other:

Not pregnant or nursing
Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation
No gastrointestinal or psychiatric disease that would preclude study treatment
No active infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered
No concurrent immunomodulatory agents

Chemotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered
No concurrent antineoplastic agents

Endocrine therapy:

Concurrent corticosteroids allowed

Radiotherapy:

At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

Not specified

Other:

Prior cytodifferentiating agents allowed
No prior antineoplaston therapy