Imatinib Mesylate and Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed small cell lung cancer

  • Extensive stage disease
• Measurable or evaluable indicator lesion
• No symptomatic or uncontrolled brain or leptomeningeal involvement

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• WBC at least 4,000/mm3
• Platelet count at least 160,000/mm3
• Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL

Hepatic

• Bilirubin no greater than 1 mg/dL
• AST no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min

Cardiovascular

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 3 months after study
• No other active cancer except previously treated carcinoma in situ, non -melanoma skin cancer, or stage I prostate cancer
• No ongoing or active infection
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study
• No other concurrent uncontrolled illness

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• No prior chemotherapy except for non-cancer conditions (e.g., low-dose methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis)

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy to major bone marrow-containing areas

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• No concurrent warfarin for therapeutic anticoagulation

  • Low-molecular weight heparin or heparin allowed