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