Hospitalization Rates of Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Gemcitabine and Either Cisplatin or Carboplatin

OBJECTIVES: * Compare the rates of overnight hospitalization due to toxicity (e.g., blood transfusion, antibiotic use, and to obtain relief of treatment-related symptoms) of patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with gemcitabine and cisplatin vs gemcitabine and carboplatin. * Compare the need for hospitalization for chemotherapy administration in patients treated with these regimens. * Compare the tumor response rate of patients treated with these regimens. * Compare the overall survival of patients treated with these regimens. * Compare the relief of tumor-related symptoms in patients treated with these regimens. * Compare the effect on Karnofsky performance status in patients treated with these regimens. * Compare the toxic effects of these regimens in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to stage (IIIA vs IIIB \[dry\] vs IIIB \[wet\] or IV) and performance status (50-60% vs 70-100%). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I: Patients receive gemcitabine IV over 30 minutes and cisplatin IV over 1-2 hours on days 1 and 8. * Arm II: Patients receive gemcitabine IV over 30 minutes on days 1 and 8 and carboplatin IV over 30-60 minutes on day 1. In both arms, treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients are followed every 2 months for 6 months and then every 3-4 months thereafter. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 400 patients (200 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study.