DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of 1 of the following cellular types:

  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Large cell
  • Squamous cell
  • Mixed

• Meets 1 of the following staging criteria:

  • Stage IIIB disease with malignant pleural effusion, supraclavicular node involvement, or contralateral hilar nodes

    • Stage IIIB patients eligible for Cancer and Leukemia Group B protocols of combined chemotherapy and chest irradiation are not allowed
  • Stage IV disease

• Measurable or nonmeasurable disease

  • Unidimensionally measurable lesions at least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan

  • The following are considered nonmeasurable disease:

    • Bone lesions
    • Ascites
    • Pleural/pericardial effusion
    • Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis
    • Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
    • Cystic lesions
    • Small lesions
• No leptomeningeal disease
• Symptomatic CNS metastases must be treated (e.g., surgery, radiotherapy, or gamma knife), neurologically stable, and off steroids

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• AST no greater than 2.0 times upper limit of normal

Renal

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

• None of the following within the past 6 months:

  • Myocardial infarction
  • Unstable angina
  • Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  • Serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia
  • Cerebrovascular accident
  • Transient ischemic attack
  • Symptomatic carotid artery or peripheral vascular disease
  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Significant thromboembolic event

Pulmonary

• No pulmonary embolism within the past 6 months

Gastrointestinal

• No history of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
• No history of peptic ulcer disease
• No active GI bleeding

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• No known hypersensitivity to aspirin, NSAIDs, or sulfonamides

• No currently active second malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer

  • Patients are not considered to have a currently active malignancy if they have completed therapy and are considered by their physician to be at less than 30% risk of relapse

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No prior immunotherapy for NSCLC

Chemotherapy

• No prior chemotherapy for NSCLC
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics

• No concurrent chronic oral steroids

  • Concurrent episodic steroids for antiemetic purposes allowed
• No concurrent hormonal therapy
• Concurrent inhaled steroids allowed when medically indicated
• Concurrent megestrol for appetite stimulation is allowed

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 2 weeks since prior surgery and recovered

Other

• No prior systemic treatments for NSCLC
• No other concurrent investigational therapy

• At least 1 week since prior nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including any of the following:

  • Rofecoxib
  • Choline magnesium trisalicylate
  • Ibuprofen
  • Naproxen
  • Etodolac
  • Oxaprozin
  • Diflunisal
  • Nabumetone
  • Tolmetin
  • Valdecoxib
• No concurrent NSAIDs

• No concurrent chronic aspirin

  • Concurrent aspirin no greater than 325 mg/day is allowed
• No concurrent fluconazole
• No concurrent leukotriene antagonists (e.g., zafirlukast, montelukast, or pranlukast)