Soblidotin in Treating Patients With Progressive Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

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