Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma, including the
following histologic subtypes:

- Squamous cell

- Adenocarcinoma

- Adenosquamous

- Large cell anaplastic

- Bronchoalveolar

- Non-small cell carcinoma not otherwise specified (NOS)

- Stage IIIB disease (with a pleural effusion) or stage IV disease

- Stage IV patients with brain metastases are eligible provided the brain
metastases are clinically stable after treatment with surgery and/or radiation
therapy

- Tumors must test positive for aberrant methylation of the MGMT gene by
methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction

- Bidimensionally measurable or evaluable disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- ECOG performance status 0-2

- No other active malignancies

- WBC ≥ 4,000/mm^3 OR absolute neutrophil count ≥ 2,000/mm^3

- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

- Total bilirubin normal

- AST < 5 times upper limit of normal

- Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min

- No uncontrolled serious active infection

- Not pregnant or nursing

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy

- No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens

- No prior therapy with nitrosoureas

- Recovered from prior radiation therapy