R115777 in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed recurrent or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

• Measurable disease

  • At least 20 mm in at least one dimension

  • Nonmeasurable is defined as any of the following:

    • Bone lesions
    • Leptomeningeal disease
    • Ascites
    • Pleural/pericardial effusion
    • Inflammatory breast disease
    • Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis
    • Abdominal masses not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
    • Cystic lesions
• No CNS 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 at least 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST no greater than 3 times ULN (no greater than 5 times ULN in case of hepatic metastases)

Renal

• Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN

Cardiovascular

• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No uncontrolled infection
• No other prior malignancy in past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or other adequately treated noninvasive carcinomas
• No other concurrent severe underlying disease

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No prior biologic, gene, or immunotherapy

Chemotherapy

• No prior chemotherapy for NSCLC except low dose cisplatin as radiosensitizer

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• Prior radiotherapy to less than 25% of bone marrow allowed

Surgery

• Not specified