CCI-779 in Treating Patients With Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must have histologically-confirmed small cell carcinoma of the lung or unequivocally positive cytological evidence (sputum \[at least 2\] or aspirate biopsy), with extensive disease (disease beyond the hemithorax and adjacent nodes, supraclavicular node involvement or pleural effusion with positive cytology), who have required induction chemotherapy, who have responding or stable disease, and who meet the following criteria: * Induction chemotherapy including platinum (cisplatin or carboplatin) plus either etoposide (VP-16) or irinotecan (CPT-11) * A minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 cycles of induction chemotherapy have been administered * Recovered from all toxicity related to prior chemotherapy (except alopecia and/or neuropathy) * No less than 4 and no more than 8 weeks have elapsed between the last treatment of induction chemotherapy and randomization * No more than 32 weeks have elapsed between the first dose of induction chemotherapy and date of randomization * The patient has responding or stable disease using RECIST criteria since the initiation of systemic chemotherapy (i.e., patients who have exhibited disease progression are NOT ELIGIBLE) * Patients must be disease-free for \>= 5 years if they have had a prior second malignancy other than treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * Baseline measurements/evaluations of disease must be obtained =\< 4 weeks prior to randomization * WBC \>= 4000/mm³ or * ANC \>= 1500/mm³ * Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm³ * Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 mg/dl * Creatinine =\< 1.5 mg/dl * Patient's cholesterol level must be \< 350mg/dl; (note; if non-fasting levels are high repeat in a fasting state) * Patient's triglycerides must be \< 400mg/dl; (note; if non-fasting levels are high repeat in a fasting state) * ECOG performance status 0, 1, or 2 * Prior radiation to any symptomatic site is permitted so long as the site(s) of measurable disease are NOT irradiated, and radiation is completed at least 4 weeks before randomization * Patients must not have had prior treatment with biological response modifiers * Patients with brain metastases are eligible provided they have received treatment, are asymptomatic and are no longer taking corticosteroids; patients who develop brain metastases after completion of induction chemotherapy are ineligible * Patients must not be on anticonvulsant therapy * Patients must not have limited disease * Patients must not become pregnant and must practice adequate contraception; women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control) prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation and continue approximately 12 weeks after the study is completed; should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately; female patients who are breastfeeding are also excluded from this study * Patients must not have history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to CCI-779, or to any of the components of the CCI-779 formulation; patients must also not be allergic to or for medical reasons are unable to receive antihistamines * Patients must not be immunocompromised, have an active infection or serious intercurrent infection, or have received known immunosuppressive therapies within 3 weeks randomization