Soblidotin in Treating Patients With Progressive Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer

Locally advanced or metastatic disease
Demonstrates tumor progression

Must have received 1 prior chemotherapy regimen

Prior chemotherapy must have included a platinum agent

Measurable disease

At least 1 measurable lesion outside the field of any prior radiotherapy
No symptomatic brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

18 and over

Performance status

ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic

Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases are present)

Renal

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiac

Ejection fraction at least 40% by MUGA

Other

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No psychiatric disorder that would preclude giving informed consent or following study instruction
No grade 2 or greater neurotoxicity
No other prior malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix unless in complete remission and off therapy for that disease for at least 5 years prior to study entry
No other concurrent severe or uncontrolled underlying medical disease that would compromise patient safety and study outcome
No concurrent serious infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

No concurrent anticancer biologic therapy

Chemotherapy

See Disease Characteristics
Recovered from prior chemotherapy
No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

Not specified

Radiotherapy

See Disease Characteristics
Recovered from prior radiotherapy

No concurrent anticancer radiotherapy

Concurrent localized radiotherapy to a non-indicator lesion for pain relief is allowed provided other methods of pain control are ineffective

Surgery

At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered

Other

At least 4 weeks since prior myelosuppressive therapy
More than 28 days since prior investigational drugs
No other concurrent investigational drugs
No other concurrent anticancer cytotoxic therapy