Topotecan and Vinorelbine in Treating Patients With Recurrent Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed lung cancer * All histologic types eligible * Recurrent or progressive disease after ≥ 1 prior chemotherapy regimen with or without radiotherapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status (PS) ≤ 2 * Karnofsky PS ≥ 60% * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other active invasive malignancy * No uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to: * Ongoing or active infection * Symptomatic congestive heart failure * Unstable angina pectoris * Cardiac arrhythmia * No psychiatric illness/social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements * No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to topotecan or vinorelbine ditartrate PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No prior therapy with topotecan or vinorelbine ditartrate * No chemotherapy within the past 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) * Recovered from agents administered \> 4 weeks earlier * No other concurrent investigational agents * No concurrent palliative radiotherapy * No other concurrent anticancer therapies or agents * No concurrent hormones or other chemotherapy except for the following: * Steroids for adrenal failure * Hormones for nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes) * Intermittent dexamethasone as an antiemetic