Imatinib Mesylate After Irinotecan and Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed small cell lung cancer (SCLC) * Extensive stage disease, defined by 1 of the following criteria: * Disease extends beyond one hemithorax and regional lymph nodes * Cytologically positive pleural effusion * Meets 1 of the following criteria: * Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion outside the field of any prior radiotherapy * Evaluable disease * No history of untreated or symptomatic brain or leptomeningeal metastases * Prior brain metastases allowed provided patient is neurologically stable for 2 weeks after completion of therapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Performance status * SWOG 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Meets 1 of the following criteria: * Alkaline phosphatase (AP) normal AND AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN * AP ≤ 5 times ULN AND AST and ALT normal * No acute or chronic liver disease (e.g., chronic active hepatitis or cirrhosis) Renal * Creatinine normal OR * Creatinine clearance ≥ 65 mL/min Cardiovascular * No uncontrolled congestive heart failure * No uncontrolled angina * No myocardial infarction and/or stroke within the past 3 months Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment * No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 * No symptomatic edema from any etiology * No known HIV positivity * No other serious medical illness * No other malignancy within the past 3 years except adequately treated squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No history of dementia, active psychiatric disorder, or other condition that would preclude study compliance or ability to take oral medication on a daily basis PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy for SCLC Endocrine therapy * No concurrent routine systemic corticosteroids Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 2 weeks since prior palliative radiotherapy Surgery * More than 2 weeks since prior major surgery Other * No concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation with warfarin * Concurrent low molecular weight heparin allowed provided regimen was initiated ≥ 2 weeks prior to study entry * No other concurrent participation in another study of an investigational agent