S0119: Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed extensive stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
• * Malignant pleural effusion constitutes extensive stage disease
• Must have disease outside area of prior surgical resection or a new lesion must be present
• Controlled brain metastases allowed (asymptomatic and previously treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy)
• * Brain metastases must be re-evaluated by CT scan or MRI after completion of radiotherapy or surgery
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Zubrod 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT or SGPT no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• Renal:
• Not specified
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other adequately treated stage I or II cancer in complete remission
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No prior biologic therapy for SCLC
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior systemic chemotherapy for SCLC
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy for SCLC except for brain metastases
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 2 weeks since prior surgery (thoracic or other major surgery) and recovered