DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

  • Stage IIIB with pleural effusion or stage IV disease
• Age 70 years and over with SWOG performance status 0-2 OR age 18 to 69 with SWOG performance status 2
• Measurable or evaluable disease

• No symptomatic or untreated brain or leptomeningeal metastases

  • Previously treated patients must be neurologically stable for 4 weeks after completion of appropriate therapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• See Disease Characteristics
• 18 and over

Performance status:

• See Disease Characteristics
• SWOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST/ALT no greater than ULN (or no greater than 2.5 times ULN if alkaline phosphatase no greater than ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than ULN (or no greater than 5 times ULN if AST/ALT no greater than ULN)
• No history of chronic hepatitis

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

• No uncontrolled congestive heart failure
• No uncontrolled angina
• No myocardial infarction and/or stroke within the past 6 months
• No active thromboembolic event within the past 4 weeks

Gastrointestinal:

• No gastrointestinal bleeding within the past 6 months
• No history of peptic ulcer disease

Other:

• No prior hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80
• No prior allergy to any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
• No other prior or concurrent malignancy within the past 3 years except adequately treated squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy
• No other serious concurrent medical illness
• No history of dementia, active psychiatric disorder, or other condition that would interfere with ability to take oral medication or preclude compliance with study
• HIV negative
• Must weigh at least 50 kg (110 pounds)
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No prior biologic therapy for NSCLC

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy for NSCLC

Endocrine therapy:

• At least 3 days since prior steroids

Radiotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy to target lesion

Surgery:

• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery

Other:

• Prior intermittent use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including rofecoxib or celecoxib, allowed
• At least 1 week since prior fluconazole
• No recent prior NSAIDs, including rofecoxib or celecoxib, for a duration of more than 30 consecutive days
• No concurrent fluconazole or lithium
• No concurrent NSAIDs except aspirin administered at a dose of no more than 325 mg/day for cardiovascular conditions
• No other concurrent cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors
• No other concurrent investigational agents