S0802 - Topotecan With or Without Aflibercept in Treating Patients With Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion criteria

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed extensive stage small cell lung cancer * Progressive or recurrent disease following one (and only one) standard first-line platinum-containing regimen (cisplatin or carboplatin) * Measurable or non-measurable disease per RECIST criteria * Disease must be outside a previously irradiated field OR a new lesion must be inside the irradiated field * Disease must be outside a previously resected area OR a new lesion must be present * No known brain metastasis unless the metastasis has been treated and is stable for ≥ 3 months prior to study entry * No leptomeningeal involvement or brain stem metastasis * Zubrod performance status 0-1 * ANC ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min * Urine protein: creatinine ratio \< 1 OR urine protein \< 500 mg by 24-hour urine collection * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Willing to provide smoking history * No evidence of active infection * No active bleeding * No significant history of bleeding diathesis, including hemoptysis (½ teaspoon of hemoptysis within the past 3 months), or underlying coagulopathy * No history of recent arterial embolic events, including any of the following: * Myocardial infarction * Cerebrovascular accident * Transient ischemic attack * Worsening of pre-existing angina within the past 6 months * No uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP \> 150 mm Hg or diastolic BP \> 100 mm Hg) * History of hypertension allowed provided it is controlled on anti-hypertensive medications * No history of congestive heart failure * No history of encephalitis or encephalopathy of any cause * No diverticulitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, or peptic ulcer within the past 3 months * No known AIDS or HIV-1 associated complex * No known history of immune or immunodeficiency disorders * No unstable or pre-existing major medical conditions except for cancer-related abnormalities * No other prior malignancy except for any of the following: * Adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * In situ cervical cancer * Adequately treated stage I or II cancer currently in complete remission * Any other cancer from which the patient been disease-free for 5 years * Concurrent chronic therapeutic doses of low molecular weight heparin allowed * At least 21 days since prior and no concurrent radiotherapy and recovered * At least 28 days since prior and no concurrent surgery (e.g., thoracic or other major surgeries) and recovered * No prior bevacizumab or other anti-angiogenic therapies including, but not limited to, small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors * No concurrent enzyme-inducing anticonvulsant drugs * Non-enzyme-inducing anticonvulsant drugs (e.g., Keppra) allowed * Concurrent chronic oral anticoagulation therapy allowed provided INR is maintained in the therapeutic range (INR 2-3)