Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer

- Stage IIIB (with pleural effusion) or stage IV disease

- Candidate for systemic therapy

- Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by
conventional techniques or ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan

- No active brain metastases

- More than 7 days since prior radiotherapy for brain metastases

- Must be neurologically stable with no seizures within the past 3 weeks

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 OR Karnofsky PS 60-100%

- WBC ≥ 3,000/mm³

- ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³

- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³

- Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- AST or ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases present)

- Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min by Cockcroft-Gault formula

- No current active dental problems, including infection of the teeth or jawbone
(maxilla or mandible)

- No dental or fixture trauma, or a current or prior diagnosis of osteonecrosis of the
jaw, of exposed bone in the mouth, or of slow healing after dental procedures

- Not pregnant

- No uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, any of the
following:

- Ongoing or active infection

- Symptomatic congestive heart failure

- Unstable angina pectoris

- Cardiac arrhythmia

- Psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study
requirements

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No prior or other concurrent bisphosphonates

- More than 2 weeks since prior surgery

- More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C)
and recovered

- More than 7 days since prior palliative radiotherapy and recovered

- More than 6 weeks since prior and no planned dental or jaw surgery

- More than 30 days since prior participation in an investigational trial

- No other concurrent investigational agent