Everolimus and Whole-Brain Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Brain Metastasis From Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Radiographically confirmed brain metastases with histopathologically confirmed primary non-small cell lung cancer that will benefit from whole-brain radiotherapy * Must have ≥ 1 measurable intracranial site of disease, according to RECIST criteria, that has not been previously treated with stereotactic radiation * Must have stable extracranial disease for 4 weeks PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks * ANC \> 1,500/mm³ * Platelets \> 100,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin \> 11 g * BUN ≤ 25 mg * Serum creatinine \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Serum transaminases ≤ 2 times ULN (\< 5 times ULN if patient has liver metastases) * Cholesterol ≤ 300 mg/dL * Triglycerides ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 3 months after completion of study treatment * No other malignancies within the past 3 years, except for adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or basal or squamous cell carcinomas of the skin * No severe and/or uncontrolled medical conditions or other conditions that could affect participation in the study, including any of the following: * Unstable angina pectoris, symptomatic congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, or serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia * Severely impaired lung function (i.e., FEV1 \< 0.8 cc) * Uncontrolled diabetes as defined by fasting serum glucose ≥ 1.5 times ULN * Any active (acute or chronic) or uncontrolled infection/disorders * Non-malignant medical illnesses that are uncontrolled or whose control may be jeopardized by the treatment with the study therapy * Liver disease, such as cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis, or chronic persistent hepatitis * No known history of HIV seropositivity * No impairment of gastrointestinal function or gastrointestinal disease that may significantly alter the absorption of everolimus (e.g., ulcerative disease, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, or small bowel resection) * No active, bleeding diathesis * No known hypersensitivity to everolimus or other rapamycin (i.e., sirolimus, temsirolimus) or to its excipients * No history of noncompliance to medical regimens PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from the acute toxicities of any prior therapy * Prior surgical resection of a brain metastasis allowed * The extent of surgical resection in patients having prior resection of 1 of multiple metastases shall be documented as a biopsy, subtotal resection, or total resection as described by the operative report and/or post-operative imaging * At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery or completion of extracranial radiation * At least 3 weeks since prior and no concurrent systemic anticancer therapy, other than the study medications administered as part of this study protocol * At least 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas * More than 1 week since prior and no concurrent immunization with attenuated live vaccines * More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy * No prior brain radiotherapy of any form * No concurrent chronic treatment with systemic steroids or other immunosuppressive agents, except steroids for neurological stability following the diagnosis of brain metastases * No prior treatment with an mTOR inhibitor * No concurrent anti-vitamin K medication, except low dose coumarin * No concurrent drugs or substances known to be inhibitors or inducers of the isoenzyme CYP3A * No other concurrent investigational therapy