Paclitaxel + Carboplatin With/ut BMS-275291 in Advanced or Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
• * Local or metastatic failure after surgery and/or radiotherapy allowed
• Phase II only:
• * At least one measurable lesion
• * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• No known CNS metastases unless asymptomatic and at least 4 weeks since prior corticosteroid therapy
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 12 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• ALT no greater than 2 times ULN (5 times ULN for liver metastases)
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Cardiovascular:
• No significant cardiac disease
• No uncontrolled high blood pressure, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, second or third degree atrioventricular conduction defects, or ventricular arrhythmias requiring medication
• No myocardial infarction within the past year
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No prior allergic reaction to drugs containing Cremophor EL
• No serious active infection or other underlying medical condition that would preclude study participation
• No peripheral neuropathy
• No condition (e.g., psychological, geographical) that would preclude study participation
• No prior breast cancer or melanoma
• No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except carcinoma in situ, basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, or other cancer that has been curatively treated surgically
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No prior immunotherapy
• No prior biological response modifiers
• No other concurrent biologic therapy or immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior antineoplastic chemotherapy, including intrapleural chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy to study lesion (unless evidence of disease progression) or to 30% or greater of marrow bearing bones
• At least 1 week since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery
• No concurrent surgery
• Other:
• At least 2 weeks since prior investigational drugs
• No other concurrent cytotoxic anticancer therapy
• No other investigational drugs during and for 30 days after study