Rebeccamycin Analog as Second-Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Limited-Stage or Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer That Relapsed After Previous First-Line Chemotherapy

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) * Limited or extensive stage * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion at least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Sensitive\* relapsed disease after only 1 prior chemotherapy regimen * Brain metastasis allowed provided the following criteria are met: * Stable brain disease * Not receiving irradiation * No steroid requirement to control symptoms * Performance status - ECOG 0-2 * Performance status - Karnofsky 60-100% * At least 12 weeks * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL * AST and ALT \< 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver involvement is present) * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * Creatinine \< 2.0 mg/dL * Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No active or ongoing infection * No other concurrent uncontrolled illness * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * See Disease Characteristics * See Disease Characteristics * See Disease Characteristics * Prior radiotherapy allowed * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent therapies for SCLC * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients