Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB or Stage IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer
• Measurable disease
• No brain metastases
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• Over 18
• Performance status:
• Zubrod 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute granulocyte count greater than 2,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin less than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST and ALT less than 2.5 times ULN (unless attributed to liver metastases)
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL AND/OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
• Cardiovascular:
• No myocardial infarction within past 6 months
• No congestive heart failure
• No uncontrolled arrhythmia
• Other:
• No other concurrent or prior malignancy within past 5 years except localized basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• HIV negative
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy with clearly progressive disease
• Concurrent palliative radiotherapy allowed if no evidence of disease progression
• Surgery:
• Not specified