DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer

  • Locally advanced or metastatic disease (stage IB-IV)
  • No mixed small cell histology
  • No bronchoalveolar carcinoma
• Failed first-line platinum-based chemotherapy

• At least one unidimensionally measurable lesion

  • At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• No brain metastases or spinal cord compression unless treated at least 4 weeks before study and stable without steroids for at least 1 week

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• WHO 0-1

Life expectancy

• At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic

• Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST and ALT no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• No hepatitis B

Renal

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Calcium (adjusted for albumin) normal

Cardiovascular

• No significant cardiovascular disease
• No symptomatic heart failure or angina within the past 3 months
• No cardiac disease that increases risk of a ventricular arrhythmia
• No clinically significant arrhythmia (e.g., multifocal premature ventricular contractions, bigeminy, trigeminy, or ventricular tachycardia) that is symptomatic or requires treatment
• No symptomatic sustained ventricular tachycardia
• No chronic atrial fibrillation
• No history of QT prolongation with other medications
• No congenital long QT syndrome
• No QTc with Bazett's correction unmeasurable or more than 460 msec by screening electrocardiogram
• LVEF at least 45% by MUGA (for patients with prior anthracycline therapy with total dose greater than 450 mg/m^2)

Pulmonary

• Oxygen saturation at least 90% on room air
• No requirement for supplemental oxygen

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective double-barrier contraception
• No known hypersensitivity to drugs formulated with polysorbate 80
• HIV negative
• No severe or uncontrolled systemic disease
• Magnesium normal
• Potassium at least 4.0 meq/L

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• More than 6 weeks since prior suramin
• No concurrent biological response modifiers (including cytokines)

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• Prior docetaxel or paclitaxel allowed
• More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent hormonal therapy for cancer

Radiotherapy

• No prior chest radiotherapy
• More than 4 weeks since other prior radiotherapy
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• No prior agents that block the endothelial growth factor (EGF) or vascular EGF pathways
• More than 4 weeks since prior systemic anticancer therapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior investigational agents

• More than 2 weeks since prior, and no concurrent, treatment with any of the following:

  • Amiodarone
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Ketoconazole
  • Itraconazole
  • Troleandomycin
  • Erythromycin
  • Diltiazem
  • Verapamil
  • Phenytoin
  • Carbamazepine
  • Rifampin
• More than 4 weeks since prior barbiturates
• More than 2 weeks since prior therapeutic-dose warfarin
• No concurrent therapeutic-dose warfarin
• No concurrent barbiturates
• No concurrent medications known to affect QTc
• No concurrent medications known to prolong QT interval or induce Torsade de Pointes
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy
• No other concurrent cytotoxic therapy for cancer
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• Low dose-warfarin for catheter clot prophylaxis allowed