AZD2171 and Pemetrexed Disodium in Treating Patients With Relapsed Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

You may be eligible if

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer
• Measurable disease, defined as \>= 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion \>= 20 mm by conventional techniques or \>= 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• Lesions in a previously irradiated area are considered measurable provided there has been an increase of \>= 10 mm since completion of radiotherapy
• Received 1-2 prior regimens, including 1 doublet chemotherapy regimen, AND meets 1 of the following criteria:
• * No prior bevacizumab (cohort A)
• * Patients with squamous cell carcinoma, treated and controlled brain metastases, or history of hemoptysis allowed
• Received 1-2 prior regimens\*, including 1 doublet chemotherapy regimen, AND meets 1 of the following criteria:
• * Previously treated with bevacizumab (cohort B)
• * No discontinuation of bevacizumab for uncontrollable hypertension and/or life-threatening bleeding
• * Must have disease progression after prior bevacizumab (NOTE: \*Prior adjuvant therapy is considered 1 regimen if disease progression occurred within 1 year of completion of therapy; if a regimen was discontinued within 2 courses for allergic reaction or unacceptable drug-specific toxicity, that regimen dose not count)
• No large pleural effusion or ascites unless drained
• No active brain metastases by brain MRI or CT scan within the past 4 weeks
• Patients with treated, controlled brain metastasis allowed provided they are neurologically stable without seizures within the past 3 weeks
• ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 OR Karnofsky PS 60-100%
• Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
• WBC \>= 3,000/mm\^3
• Bilirubin =\< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST and ALT =\< 2.5 times ULN (\< 5 times ULN if liver metastases present)
• Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min
• Urine protein =\< 1+ on 2 consecutive dipsticks taken \>= 1 week apart
• No significant hemorrhage (i.e., \> 30 mL in 1 episode) within the past 3 months
• No significant hemoptysis (i.e., \> 5 mL fresh blood in 1 episode) within the past 4 weeks
• No active gastrointestinal disease that may affect the ability of the patient to absorb AZD2171
• No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to AZD2171 or pemetrexed disodium
• No other malignancies within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ
• No uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:
• * Ongoing or active infection
• * Symptomatic congestive heart failure
• * Unstable angina pectoris
• * Cardiac arrhythmia
• * Psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
• Mean QTc \< 470 msec by ECG
• No history of familial long QT syndrome
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No resting blood pressure (BP) consistently \> 140/90 mm Hg; Patients whose BP is controlled after starting, adjusting, or increasing medication allowed
• LVEF normal by MUGA or echocardiogram for patients at increased risk for left ventricular dysfunction, as evidenced by any of the following:
• * Prior treatment with anthracyclines
• * New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease or controlled class II disease
• * Prior central thoracic radiotherapy, including radiotherapy to the heart
• * Myocardial infarction within the past 12 months
• At least 4 weeks since prior definitive chest radiotherapy (\> 60 Gy) and recovered
• At least 3 months since prior craniotomy for resection of brain metastasis
• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy for brain metastases
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) and recovered
• At least 2 weeks since prior palliative radiotherapy
• At least 2 weeks since prior surgery (excluding the placement of vascular access or drainage of pleural effusion or ascites) and recovered
• No inability or unwillingness to take folic acid, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), or dexamethasone
• No prior pemetrexed disodium
• At least 5 half-lives since prior and no concurrent drugs or biologics with proarrythmic potential including:
• * Amiodarone hydrochloride
• * Arsenic trioxide
• * Bepridil
• * Chloroquine
• * Chlorpromazine
• * Cisapride
• * Clarithromycin
• * Disopyramide
• * Dofetilide
• * Domperidone
• * Droperidol
• * Erythromycin
• * Halofantrine
• * Haloperidol
• * Ibutilide
• * Mesoridazine
• * Methadone
• * Pentamidine
• * Pimozide
• * Procainamide
• * Sotalol
• * Sparfloxacin
• * Thioridazine
• Not pregnant or nursing
• More than 30 days since prior investigational agents and recovered
• No aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for 2 days before, during, and for 2 days after pemetrexed disodium administration: Low-dose aspirin (≤ 325 mg/day) for vascular disorders allowed
• No long-acting NSAIDs (e.g., naproxen, piroxicam, diflunisal, nabumetone, or celecoxib) for 5 days before, during, and for 2 days after pemetrexed disodium
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• Life expectancy \> 12 weeks
• No concurrent medications that can markedly affect renal function (e.g., vancomycin or amphotericin)
• Negative pregnancy test
• Relapsed disease