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