DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed small cell lung cancer

• Recurrent disease after 1, and only 1, prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen (either cisplatin or carboplatin)

  • Completed therapy ≥ 90 days before documentation of relapse

• Measurable disease

  • At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan

  • The following are considered non-measurable lesions:

    • Bone lesions
    • Leptomeningeal disease
    • Ascites
    • Pleural/pericardial effusion
    • Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
    • Cystic lesions
    • Tumor lesions situated in previously irradiated area

• Treated or controlled brain metastases allowed

  • No requirement for further radiotherapy or steroid therapy to control peri-tumoral edema

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• AST ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN OR
• Creatinine clearance 60-150 mL/min for males and 60-130 mL/min for females

Cardiovascular

• LVEF > 40% by MUGA
• QTc < 500 msec
• No significant cardiac disease
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure
• No myocardial infarction within the past year
• No uncontrolled dysrhythmias
• No poorly controlled angina
• No left ventricular hypertrophy by echocardiograph or EKG
• No prior serious ventricular arrhythmia (ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation ≥ 3 beats in a row)

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 weeks after study participation
• No prior allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to FR901228

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF) or sargramostim (GM-CSF)

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior FR901228 (depsipeptide)
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics

• No concurrent hormones except for the following:

  • Steroids given for adrenal failure
  • Hormones administered for non-cancer-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
  • Intermittent dexamethasone as an antiemetic

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No concurrent palliative radiotherapy

Surgery

• At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered

Other

• No concurrent agent that causes QTc prolongation
• No concurrent enzyme-inducing anticonvulsant drugs (e.g., phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, felbamate, or primidone)
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No concurrent potassium-wasting diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide)
• No other concurrent histone deacetylase inhibitors (e.g., phenylbutyrate, valproic acid, or suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid)
• No other concurrent investigational agent