Polyglutamate Paclitaxel Compared With Gemcitabine or Vinorelbine in Treating Patients With Advanced or Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) meeting 1 of the following criteria:
• * Locally advanced or recurrent disease previously treated with radiotherapy and/or surgery
• * Stage IIIB and not a candidate for combined modality therapy
• * Stage IV
• No evidence of small cell carcinoma, carcinoid, or mixed small cell/non-small cell histology
• Cytological diagnosis must be based on the following:
• * No cellular diagnosis by sputum cytology alone
• * Cytologic specimens obtained from brushings, washings, or needle aspiration of a defined lesion or pleural effusion are acceptable
• Measurable or nonmeasurable disease
• Brain metastases allowed provided patient received prior standard antitumor therapy for CNS metastases (e.g., whole brain radiotherapy, stereotactic radioablation, or surgery) and the following conditions are met:
• * Neurologic function stable for at least 2 weeks before study entry
• * Off steroid therapy or on a tapering regimen
• * Recovered from prior therapy
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• ECOG 2
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT/SGPT no greater than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases present)
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN (except for laboratory documentation that demonstrates bone origin)
• Renal
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Cardiovascular
• No unstable angina
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• Cardiac conduction abnormalities (e.g., bundle branch block or heart block) allowed provided cardiac status has been stable for at least 6 months prior to study entry
• Neurologic
• See Disease Characteristics
• No neuropathy greater than grade 1
• No evidence of unstable neurologic symptoms within the past 4 weeks (2 weeks for neurologic symptoms due to brain metastases)
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No intolerance to excipients of polyglutamate paclitaxel (e.g., poly-L-glutamic acid, poloxamer 188, dibasic sodium phosphate, or monobasic sodium hydroxide)
• No clinically significant active infection
• No other concurrent primary malignancy except carcinoma in situ or nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No other unstable medical conditions
• No circumstance that would preclude study completion or follow-up
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• No prior systemic biologic agent for lung cancer
• Chemotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior systemic chemotherapy for lung cancer including radiosensitizing agents
• Endocrine therapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• Radiotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior major surgery
• Other
• More than 12 weeks since prior participation in any research study or treatment with investigational drugs
• Recovered from prior investigational therapy or stable for 4 weeks before study treatment
• No other concurrent investigational drugs
• No other concurrent systemic antitumor therapy
• No concurrent amifostine
• Concurrent bisphosphonates allowed