Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

- Histologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer

- Stage I-IIIA disease

- Must have undergone a complete resection

- Must begin adjuvant chemotherapy within 8 weeks of surgical resection

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- ECOG performance status 0-1

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

- Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL

- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

- Serum creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance ≥ 40 mL/min

- Bilirubin normal

- Alkaline phosphatase (AP), AST, and ALT must meet 1 of the following criteria:

- AP normal AND AST and ALT ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- AP ≤ 2.5 times ULN AND AST and ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN

- AP ≤ 5 times ULN AND AST and ALT normal

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 3 months
after study therapy

- No breastfeeding

- No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2

- No history of severe hypersensitivity to docetaxel or polysorbate 80

- Prior history of malignancy allowed provided the attending medical oncologists
believes that adjuvant chemotherapy is indicated and will potentially benefit the
patient

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- 2-8 weeks since prior surgery and recovered