DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

  • Extensive-stage disease, defined by 1 of the following:

    • Extrathoracic metastases
    • Malignant pleural effusion
    • Bilateral or contralateral supraclavicular adenopathy
    • Contralateral hilar adenopathy

• Measurable or nonmeasurable disease

  • Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan

  • The following are considered nonmeasurable disease:

    • Bones lesions
    • Ascites
    • Pleural or pericardial effusion
    • Lymphangitis cutis or pulmonis
    • Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
    • Cystic lesions
• No limited stage disease, defined as disease confined to 1 hemithorax with regional lymph node metastases, including hilar, ipsilateral and contralateral mediastinal, and/or ipsilateral supraclavicular nodes
• No CNS metastases by brain CT scan or MRI, including CNS metastases previously treated with 1 course of CNS radiotherapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• No history of bleeding diathesis
• No history of other significant bleeding episodes

Hepatic

• INR < 1.5
• PTT < 1.2 times upper limit normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin < 2.0 mg/dL
• SGOT < 2 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine normal
• Urine protein < 1+ OR
• Urine protein < 1 g by 24-hour urine collection

Cardiovascular

• No New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure
• No myocardial infarction within the past year
• No significant change in anginal pattern within the past year
• No cerebrovascular accident within the past 6 months
• No clinically significant peripheral arterial disease
• No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., blood pressure ≥ 150/90 mm Hg despite antihypertensive therapy)

Pulmonary

• No hemoptysis

  • Trace blood in the sputum allowed

Other

• Not pregnant
• No nursing during and for ≥ 3-4 months after completion of study treatment
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 3-4 months after completion of study treatment
• No serious or non-healing wound ulcer or bone fracture
• No known hypersensitivity to Chinese hamster ovary cell products or other recombinant human antibodies
• No other active malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• No upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• No prior chemotherapy for SCLC
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery

• More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered
• More than 1 week since prior minor surgery (e.g., mediastinoscopy or core biopsy)

Other

• More than 1 month since prior and no concurrent thrombolytic agents except low-dose thrombolytic therapy for maintenance of central venous catheters
• No prior investigational therapy for SCLC
• No concurrent chronic daily aspirin treatment (> 325 mg/day) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents known to inhibit platelet function
• No concurrent dipyridamole, ticlopidine, clopidogrel, cilostazol, or other antiplatelet agents

• No concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation

  • Concurrent prophylactic anticoagulation for central venous access devices allowed provided requirements for INR and PTT are met
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients