RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining more than one drug may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining irinotecan and docetaxel in treating patients who have recurrent or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the response rate of previously treated patients with recurrent non-small cell lung cancer after treatment with irinotecan and docetaxel. II. Determine the toxicity of this regimen in these patients. III. Determine the overall survival in this patient population.

OUTLINE: Patients receive irinotecan IV over 90 minutes immediately followed by docetaxel IV over 60 minutes on day 1. Treatment is repeated every 3 weeks for 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients are followed every 3 months for 5 years or until death.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 44 patients will be accrued for this study within 24 months.

• Drug: docetaxel
• Drug: irinotecan hydrochloride

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Reconfirmation of NSCLC required only if complete response for greater than 1 year Measurable or evaluable disease Tumor shrinkage or stability for at least 4 weeks on initial chemotherapy CNS metastases allowed, if symptoms controlled for greater than 8 weeks after surgery or radiotherapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: 0-1 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin normal AST no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Other: No active infection At least 5 years since any other prior malignancy except curatively treated basal or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ, or other cancers No grade 2 or worse peripheral neuropathy No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus No other serious underlying disease Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No greater than 1 prior NSCLC chemotherapy regimen, excluding low dose cisplatin as a radiosensitizer No prior irinotecan or docetaxel At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy No prior radiotherapy to greater than 25% of bone marrow Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: No concurrent phenytoin, phenobarbital, or other anticonvulsants