Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, and Dimethylxanthenone Acetic Acid in Treating Patients With Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel and carboplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Dimethylxanthenone acetic acid may stop the growth of small cell lung cancer by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Giving paclitaxel and carboplatin together with dimethylxanthenone acetic acid may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying the side effects of giving paclitaxel and carboplatin together with dimethylxanthenone acetic acid and to see how well they work in treating patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.