Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB, Stage IV, or Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of 1 of the following types:
• •* Squamous cell
• •* Adenocarcinoma
• •* Large cell anaplastic
• •* Bronchoalveolar
• •* Non-small cell carcinoma not otherwise specified NOTE: Mixed tumors are categorized by the predominant cell type (tumors with small-cell anaplastic elements are ineligible)
• •Evidence of at least 1 of the following:
• •* Clinically documented recurrent disease after prior radiation or surgery
• •* Stage IV disease (distant metastases)
• •* Stage IIIB disease presenting with 1 of the following:
• •* Pleural or pericardial effusion by CT scan or chest x-ray
• •* Pleural implants documented pathologically or seen on CT scan or x-ray
• •Measurable or evaluable disease
• •No brain metastases unless clinically stable after surgery and/or radiotherapy
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age
• •18 and over
• •Performance status
• •ECOG 0-1
• •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 1.5 mg/dL
• •AST less than 5 times upper limit of normal
• •Renal
• •Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• •Creatinine clearance at least 40 mL/min
• •Other
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •No hypersensitivity to agents that contain Cremophor EL (polyoxyethylated castor oil)
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •Biologic therapy
• •Not specified
• •Chemotherapy
• •No prior chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC
• •Endocrine therapy
• •Not specified
• •Radiotherapy
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •Recovered from prior radiotherapy
• •No prior radiotherapy to the only site of measurable disease, unless the site had subsequent progression of disease documented by physical exam, radiography, or pathology
• •No concurrent radiotherapy (except for brain metastases)
• •Surgery
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •Other
• •No concurrent aminoglycoside antibiotics