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

You may be eligible if

• 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