DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed primary small cell lung cancer (SCLC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), advanced esophageal cancer, or pleural mesothelioma

  • Cancers of non-thoracic origin with metastases to the lungs or pleura eligible
  • Unresectable disease
• Primary or metastatic disease must be accessible for biopsy by endoscopic or percutaneous fine-needle aspiration techniques
• No limited stage SCLC or operable NSCLC

• No active intracranial or leptomeningeal metastases

  • Patients with prior intracranial metastases that have been treated with prior surgery or radiotherapy are eligible provided there is no evidence of active disease and no requirement for anticonvulsant therapy or steroids after treatment

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3 (without cytokine support)
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3 (without transfusion)

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal
• PT normal

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.6 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance greater than 70 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

• LVEF less than 50% by MUGA scan or echocardiogram
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease (i.e., decompensated heart failure)
• No myocardial infarction within the past year
• No uncontrolled arrhythmias
• No prior serious ventricular arrhythmias not controlled by coronary artery bypass surgery
• No prosthetic heart valves requiring anticoagulation
• No deep venous thrombosis
• No left ventricular hypertrophy
• No history of sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, Torsades de Pointes, or cardiac arrest without currently having an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator in place
• No congenital long QT syndrome or QTc > 480 msec
• No Mobitz II second degree block without currently having a pacemaker in place
• No cardiac arrhythmias requiring antiarrhytmic medication except a beta blocker or calcium channel blocker
• No hypertrophic or restrictive cardiomyopathy from prior treatment of other causes
• No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., blood pressure ≥160/95)
• No clinically significant active myocardial ischemia on the basis of nuclear imaging or angiography
• No history of coronary artery disease (e.g., angina Canadian Class II-IV or positive stress imaging study)
• No evidence of cardiac ischemia (e.g., ST depression greater than or equal to 2 mm) by EKG
• First degree or Mobitz second degree block, bradyarrhythmias, or sick sinus syndrome allowed provided patient undergo Holter monitoring and cardiac evaluation

Pulmonary:

• FEV_1 and DLCO greater than 30% predicted
• Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO_2) less than 50 mm Hg on room air
• Partial pressure of oxygen (pO_2) greater than 60 mm Hg on room air
• No pulmonary embolism

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No active infections
• HIV negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 30 days since prior anticancer biologic therapy

Chemotherapy:

• At least 30 days since prior anticancer chemotherapy
• Prior decitabine or FR901228 (depsipeptide) allowed provided no dose-limiting toxicity was experienced at the scheduled dose

Endocrine therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 14 days since prior localized radiotherapy to non-target lesions and recovered
• At least 30 days since prior anticancer radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics

Other:

• No more than 2 prior systemic cytotoxic treatment regimens
• At least a 5 half-life washout period since and no concurrent medication causing corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation
• No concurrent medication causing corrected QTc prolongation
• No concurrent anticonvulsants
• No concurrent hydrochlorothiazide diuretics
• No concurrent digitalis