Bortezomib in Treating Patients With Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion criteria

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer * Mixed tumors allowed unless small cell elements are present * Stage IIIB or IV or recurrent disease * At least 1 measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * No known brain metastases * Performance status - ECOG 0-1 * More than 3 months * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver involvement present) * Creatinine ≤ 2 mg/dL * Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No peripheral neuropathy \> grade 1 * No other concurrent uncontrolled illness * No ongoing or active infection * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study participation * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen * Two prior chemotherapy regimens allowed provided 1 of the 2 regimens was gefitinib monotherapy as second-line therapy * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for carmustine, mitomycin, or nitrosoureas) and recovered * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (except localized radiotherapy for symptom relief) and recovered * Prior bortezomib allowed provided patient achieved at least a partial response (of at least 6 months duration), received no other therapy since the last dose of bortezomib, and has no residual toxicity greater than grade 1 * No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies for malignancy