Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

- No squamous cell carcinoma

- Untreated Stage IIIB or IV disease not suitable for surgery or radiotherapy OR
patients with postoperative recurrence who had never been treated by chemotherapy

- No history of smoking or light smoking (< 10 packs a year and smoking abatement ≥ 15
years)

- At least 1 measurable tumor mass (length > 1.5 cm and width > 1.0 cm)

- No symptomatic brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- ECOG performance status 0-1

- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 2 x 10^9/L

- Platelet count ≥ 100 x 10^9/L

- ALT and AST ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Total bilirubin ≤1.5 times ULN

- Serum creatinine normal

- Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No other malignant tumors within the past year except for basal cell or squamous cell
carcinoma of the skin, or in situ malignant cancer that has been completely resected

- No history of allergic reaction to any component of the drugs in this study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 1 month since prior investigational drugs or medical devices

- No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for this tumor

- No concurrent liposomal paclitaxel

- No other concurrent antitumor therapy (e.g., radiotherapy or surgical treatment)

- No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy drugs or anticancer Chinese herbs