VNP40101M in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Locally Advanced or Metastatic Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Cytologically confirmed small cell lung cancer * Locally advanced or metastatic disease * Recurrent or progressive disease after first-line standard cytotoxic therapy * Measurable or evaluable disease * Brain metastasis allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Life expectancy ≥ 2 months * Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL * Bilirubin ≤ 2.5 mg/dL * AST and ALT ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver metastases present) * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No active uncontrolled bleeding * No active infection * Must not require supplemental oxygen at rest * No active heart disease * No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months * No uncontrolled congestive heart failure * No uncontrolled arrhythmias * No uncontrolled coronary artery disease PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * More than 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy, biologic therapy or chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) * Prior radiotherapy within the past 3 weeks allowed if exposure involves no more than 30% of bones with significant bone marrow-producing capabilities (e.g., vertebral bodies and long bones) * At least 2 weeks since prior surgery or hormonal therapy * Must not require any immediate palliative treatment including surgery * Must have recovered from prior anticancer therapy * Persistent, stable chronic toxic effects ≤ grade 1 are allowed * No more than 1 prior systemic chemotherapy regimen for locally advanced or metastatic disease * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No other concurrent investigational agent * No concurrent disulfiram