DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer

  • Stage IIIB or IV

• Currently receiving first- or second-line antineoplastic therapy (must be scheduled to receive therapy during the 12 weeks of study therapy)

  • Antineoplastic therapy may include single agent or combination chemotherapy, corticosteroids, or a combination of these agents

• Hemoglobin no greater than 11 g/dL

  • Transfusion independent
• No known primary or metastatic CNS malignancy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• More than 6 months

Hematopoietic

• See Disease Characteristics
• Platelet count 50,000-500,000/mm^3
• No functional iron deficiency* (e.g., transferrin saturation less than 20% OR serum ferritin less than 100 ng/mL)
• No known hemolysis NOTE: *Concurrent iron supplementation to correct deficiency allowed

Hepatic

• Not specified

Renal

• Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

• No clinically significant hypertension

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No acute or chronic bleeding requiring therapy within the past 3 months (e.g., patients with anemia caused by gastrointestinal bleeding)
• No known cyanocobalamin deficiency
• No known folic acid deficiency
• No acute infection or inflammatory disease (C-reactive protein greater than 50 mg/L)
• No known resistance to epoetin administration
• No newly diagnosed (i.e., within the past 6 months) or uncontrolled epilepsy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• More than 8 weeks since prior recombinant human erythropoietin therapy or any other erythropoiesis-stimulating drugs

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics

Radiotherapy

• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• More than 4 weeks since prior red blood cell transfusion
• More than 30 days since prior investigational drugs or regimens
• No prior enrollment and randomization to this study
• No other concurrent investigational drugs or regimens