Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
meeting criteria for 1 of the following:

- Newly diagnosed selected stage IIIB (T4 lesion due to malignant pleural
effusion) disease

- Newly diagnosed stage IV disease

- Recurrent disease after prior surgery and/or radiotherapy

- The following cellular subtypes are allowed:

- Adenocarcinoma

- Large cell carcinoma

- Squamous cell carcinoma

- Unspecified carcinoma

- Measurable or nonmeasurable disease by CT scan, MRI, x-ray, physical examination, or
bone scintigraphy

- Pleural effusions, ascites, and laboratory parameters are not allowed as the
only evidence of disease

- Disease must be present outside area of prior surgical resection

- Disease must be present outside area of prior radiotherapy OR new lesion
documented

- No known brain metastases by CT scan or MRI within the past 6 weeks

- No pleural or pericardial effusions requiring treatment

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- 18 and over

Performance status

- Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy

- Not specified

Hematopoietic

- Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

- Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL

Hepatic

- Bilirubin ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- SGOT or SGPT ≤ 2 times ULN

- Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2 times ULN

Renal

- Creatinine ≤ ULN

- Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min

Cardiovascular

- No uncontrolled hypertension

- No unstable angina

- No congestive heart failure

- No myocardial infarction within the past year

- No ventricular arrhythmia requiring medical intervention

Other

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No prior allergic drug reaction attributed to Cremophor or polysorbate 80

- No disorder associated with lung cancer with life-threatening consequences

- No motor or sensory neuropathy ≥ grade 2

- No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or
squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or adequately treated
stage I or II cancer currently in complete remission

- No uncontrolled diabetes

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- No prior biologic therapy for NSCLC

Chemotherapy

- No prior systemic chemotherapy for NSCLC

Endocrine therapy

- No prior or concurrent steroid-type hormonal therapy (e.g., ethinyl estradiol)

Radiotherapy

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 2 weeks since prior thoracic or other major surgery and recovered

Other

- No prior or concurrent azole antifungal therapy (e.g., ketoconazole, miconazole, or
itraconazole)

- No prior or concurrent macrolides (e.g., erythromycin or clarithromycin)

- No prior or concurrent cyclosporine, terfenadine, benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam,
triazolam, or midazolam), or retinoids

- No prior or concurrent calcium antagonists (e.g., diltiazem, nifedipine, or
verapamil)