Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histopathological or cytological diagnosis of primary bronchial carcinoma (small cell
or non-small cell lung cancer) within the past 6 weeks

- No other intrathoracic tumors (e.g., carcinoid tumor, mesothelioma, lymphoma, or lung
metastases from another primary site)

- No clinically apparent brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- ECOG performance status 0-3

- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³

- Serum creatinine ≤ 150 µmol/L

- Willing and able to self-administer dalteparin by daily subcutaneous injection or
have it administered by a caregiver

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile female patients must use effective contraception (if sexually active)

- No hemorrhagic stroke within the past 3 months

- No known bleeding disorder

- No hemoptysis of CTC ≥ grade 2 (i.e., symptomatic hemoptysis requiring medical
intervention)

- No central venous catheter requiring the use of thromboprophylaxis

- No known hypersensitivity to dalteparin, heparin, or other low molecular weight
heparins (e.g., history of confirmed or suspected immunologically mediated
heparin-induced thrombocytopenia; acute gastroduodenal ulcer; or subacute
endocarditis)

- No prior illness likely to interfere with study treatment or comparisons

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- No prior treatment likely to interfere with study treatment or comparisons

- More than 12 months since prior and no concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation

- No concurrent ketorolac (Toradol®)