Bronchial Artery Infusion of Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Progressive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVES: Primary * To establish the maximum tolerated dose of gemcitabine hydrochloride delivered via bronchial artery infusion in patients with recurrent or progressive non-small cell lung cancer. Secondary * To evaluate local response in patients treated with this therapy. * To characterize the pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine hydrochloride in patients treated with this therapy. OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of gemcitabine hydrochloride delivered via bronchial artery infusion. Patients receive gemcitabine hydrochloride via bronchial artery infusion over 30-60 minutes on day 1 and via IV infusion over 30 minutes on day 8 of course 1. Patients then receive gemcitabine hydrochloride IV over 30 minutes on days 1 and 8 of all subsequent courses. Treatment repeats every 21 days in the absence of disease progression and unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study therapy, patients are followed every 8 weeks to 3 months for up to 2 years.