Pemetrexed Disodium Plus Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
• * Stage IIIB disease that is ineligible for combined modality therapy OR
• * Stage IV disease
• Measurable disease
• No clinically detectable (by physical exam) third-space fluid collection (e.g., ascites or pleural effusions) that cannot be controlled by drainage or other procedures
• No brain metastases (even if treated)
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-1
• Life expectancy:
• At least 12 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST and ALT no greater than 3 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases present)
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases present)
• Renal:
• Creatinine clearance at least 45 mL/min
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• Able to take folic acid or cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) supplementation
• No uncontrolled infection
• No concurrent chronic debilitating disease
• No weight loss of 10% or more within the past 6 weeks
• No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or noninvasive carcinoma
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No prior biologic or genetic therapy for lung cancer
• No concurrent immunomodulating agents
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior chemotherapy for lung cancer
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to a different site and recovered
• No prior radiotherapy to 25% or more of bone marrow
• No prior radiotherapy to whole pelvis
• No prior radiotherapy for primary disease
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery
• Other:
• No aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents 2 days before, during, and for 2 days after pemetrexed disodium administration (5 days for long-acting agents such as piroxicam, naproxen, diflunisal, or nabumetone)
• No other concurrent cytostatic or cytotoxic therapy