Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Diagnosis of stage IIIA, IIIB, or IV non-small cell lung cancer

- Disease progression during or after 1 or more platinum-based chemotherapy
regimens

- 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:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- 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 of any duration

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 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 active infection

- 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:

- Not specified

Chemotherapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy

- Prior paclitaxel allowed

- No prior docetaxel

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 other 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