Carboplatin Plus Vinorelbine in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB or Stage IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically proven stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 8 weeks Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3000/mm3 Absolute neutrophil count at least 1500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal SGOT no greater than 3 times normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Other: No significant active infection No other severe medical illness No prior significant symptomatic peripheral neuropathy (grade 2 or worse) No concurrent neuropathy Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen No prior vinorelbine Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: Recovered from any prior radiotherapy No prior radiotherapy to more than 10% of bone marrow Surgery: At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered Other: At least 30 days since prior experimental therapy