DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed stage IV non-small cell lung cancer that cannot be cured with existing therapeutic regimens

• Measurable disease by CT scan or MRI

  • Tumor must be at least 2 cm for the lymph nodes located in the head, neck, axillary, inguinal or femoral areas and at least 0.5 cm for other areas

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status

• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

• At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 2,000/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 50,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• No hepatic insufficiency
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

• No renal insufficiency
• Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• No chronic heart failure
• No uncontrolled hypertension

Pulmonary:

• No serious lung disease (e.g., severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation
• No other serious medical or psychiatric conditions
• No active infection
• No serious malabsorption syndromes

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered

Chemotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed

Radiotherapy:

• At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy (less than 8 weeks if multiple tumors are involved) and recovered

Surgery:

• No prior extensive stomach or intestinal surgery
• Recovered from any prior surgery

Other:

• Prior cytodifferentiating agents allowed
• No prior antineoplaston treatment
• No other concurrent treatment for metastatic lung cancer