Ph II of Vinflunine and Cetuximab in Second Line Treatment of NSCLC

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) meeting 1 of the following criteria: * Unresectable stage IIIB disease with pleural effusion or pericardial effusion * Stage IIIB disease that was treated with chemotherapy alone as first-line therapy * Stage IV disease * Must have documented progression of disease after receiving one cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease * At least one lesion that is bidimensionally measurable by CT scan or MRI * Must have evaluable disease outside the radiation field * New lesions that develop within the radiation field are allowed * Measurable disease status as defined by RECIST criteria * Brain metastases allowed provided they have been previously treated and are controlled PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Inclusion criteria: * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2 * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \> 1,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin \> 8.0 g/dL * Platelet count \> 75,000/mm³ * Creatinine \< 2.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \< 5 times ULN * Total bilirubin \< 2.5 times ULN * Prior malignancy allowed provided the patient's life expectancy is best defined by the diagnosis of NSCLC * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for up to 4 weeks after completion of study therapy Exclusion criteria: * Peripheral neuropathy ≥ 2 * Severe allergic reaction to prior vinca alkaloid treatment * Active or uncontrolled infection * Significant history of uncontrolled cardiac disease, including any of the following: * Uncontrolled hypertension * Unstable angina * Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * Uncontrolled congestive heart failure * Cardiomyopathy with decreased ejection fraction * Severe reaction to prior monoclonal antibody therapy PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Inclusion criteria: * See Disease Characteristics * Prior oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy (e.g. gefitinib or erlotinib) allowed * Not considered cytotoxic therapy for study eligibility purposes if given alone as first-line therapy * At least 1 week since prior radiotherapy * At least 21 days since prior and no other concurrent chemotherapy * Prior adjuvant therapy allowed provided patient received one cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen as treatment for metastatic disease * Prior bevacizumab allowed Exclusion criteria: * Two or more cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens as treatment for metastatic disease * Prior therapy with monoclonal antibody directed at the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway * Prior therapy with a vinca alkaloid in the metastatic setting * Concurrent bevacizumab * Other concurrent investigational agent(s) * Concurrent colony-stimulating factors as primary prophylaxis for the prevention of febrile neutropenia * Concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitor(s)