cpi-613 in treating patients with relapsed or refractory small cell lung cancer

Conditions: Recurrent Small Cell Lung Cancer

Summary: this pilot clinical trial studies cpi-613 (6,8-bis\[benzylthio\]octanoic acid) in treating patients with relapsed or refractory small cell lung cancer. cpi-613 may interfere with the growth of tumor cells and may be an effective treatment for small cell lung cancer.

primary objectives: i. to evaluate the safety and anti-cancer activities in patients with relapsed or refractory small cell lung cancer (sclc) who have failed 1 or 2 lines of chemotherapy. outline: patients receive cpi-613 intravenously (iv) over 2 hours on days 1 and 4 of weeks 1-3. courses repeat every 4 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. after completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 2 months.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * histologically or cytologically proven sclc that has relapsed or been refractory from at least one line of chemotherapy * eastern cooperative oncology group (ecog) performance status of =\< 3 * expected survival \> 1 month * no acute toxicities from previous treatment higher than grade 1 at the start of treatment with cpi-613 * women of child-bearing potential (i.e., women who are pre-menopausal or not surgically sterile) must use accepted contraceptive methods (abstinence, intrauterine device \[iud\], oral contraceptive or double barrier device) during the study, and must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 1 week prior to treatment initiation * men must practice effective contraceptive methods during the study, unless documentation of infertility exists * platelet count \>= 100,000 cells/mm\^3 or \>= 100 bil/l * absolute neutrophil count (anc) \>= 1500 cells/mm\^3 or \>= 1.5 bil/l * aspartate aminotransferase (ast/serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase \[sgot\]) =\< 3 x upper normal limit (unl) * bilirubin =\< 1.5 x unl * serum creatinine =\< 1.5 mg/dl or 133 µmol/l * albumin \> 2.0 g/dl or \> 20 g/l * mentally competent, ability to understand and willingness to sign an institutional review board (irb)-approved written informed consent form * have access via central line (e.g., portacath)-double lumen due to cpi-613 administration requirements exclusion criteria: * patients receiving any other standard or investigational treatment for their cancer, or any investigational agent for any non-cancer indication within the past 2 weeks prior to initiation of cpi-613 treatment * serious medical illness that would potentially increase patients' risk for toxicity * any active uncontrolled bleeding or bleeding diathesis * pregnant women, women of child-bearing potential not using reliable means of contraception, or lactating women * men unwilling to practice contraceptive methods during the study period * life expectancy less than 1 month * treatment with any anti-cancer therapy within the 2 weeks prior to treatment with cpi-613 * patients with untreated central nervous system (cns) or epidural tumor * any condition or abnormality which may, in the opinion of the investigator, compromise his or her safety * unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements * active heart disease including myocardial infarction within previous 6 months, symptomatic coronary artery disease, arrhythmias not controlled with medication, or symptomatic congestive heart failure * evidence of active infection or serious infection (e.g., septic shock with multi-organ dysfunction) within the past month * patients with known human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection * requirement for immediate palliative treatment of any kind including surgery