A Phase I/II Study of Carboplatin and Etoposide With or Without Obatoclax in Extensive-stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (ES-SCLC)

Inclusion Criteria: Phase I: * Pathological or cytological confirmation of SCLC * ES-SCLC * Measurable disease using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) with at least one lesion ≥2.0 cm using conventional technique or ≥1.0 cm with spiral computed tomography (CT) scan in a single dimension * No previous chemotherapy * Age ≥18 years * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status ≤1 * Normal organ function defined as: absolute neutrophil count (ANC) * 1500/mm3, platelets ≥100,000/mm3, total bilirubin ≤ upper limit of normal (ULN) or total bilirubin ≤ 3.0 if liver metastases are present, alanine aminotransferase (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase) (ALT \[SGPT\]) * 2.5 ´ ULN or ALT/SGPT ≤ 5 ´ ULN if liver metastases are present, and creatinine within normal institutional limits or calculated creatinine clearance ≥50 mL/min/1.73 m2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal * Negative serum or urine pregnancy test result prior to study entry. In addition, women of child-bearing potential and men with partners of child-bearing potential must agree to use acceptable forms of birth control (those that result in less than 1% pregnancy/year when used correctly: implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some IUDs, vasectomy of a male partner, sexual abstinence) * Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent form Phase II: * Pathological or cytological confirmation of SCLC * ES-SCLC * Measurable disease using RECIST criteria with at least one lesion * 2.0 cm using conventional technique or ≥1.0 cm with spiral CT scan in a single dimension * No previous chemotherapy * Age ≥18 years * ECOG Performance Status ≤2; * Normal organ function defined as: ANC ≥1500/mm3, platelets ≥100,000/mm3, total bilirubin ≤ULN or total bilirubin ≤ 3.0 if liver metastases are present, ALT (SGPT) ≤2.5 ´ ULN or ALT/SGPT ≤ 5 ´ ULN if liver metastases are present, and creatinine within normal institutional limits or calculated creatinine clearance ≥50 mL/min/1.73 m2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal * Negative serum or urine pregnancy test result prior to study entry. In addition, women of child-bearing potential and men with partners of child-bearing potential must agree to use acceptable forms of birth control (those that result in less than 1% pregnancy/year when used correctly: implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some IUDs, vasectomy of a male partner, sexual abstinence) * Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent form Exclusion Criteria: Phase I and II: * Other investigational or commercial agents or therapies administered with the intent to treat the patient's malignancy * History of allergic reactions attributed to components of the obatoclax formulation (Polysorbate 20 and PEG 300) * History of seizure disorders unrelated to SCLC brain metastases, or presence of symptomatic brain metastases * Uncontrolled,intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, symptomatic neurological illness; active, uncontrolled systemic infection considered opportunistic, lifethreatening,or clinically significant at the time of treatment; symptomatic congestive heart failure; unstable angina pectoris; clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia; significant pulmonary disease or hypoxia; or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Pregnant women and women who are breast feeding; * human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy