Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB or Stage IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer Measurable disease No brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute granulocyte count greater than 2,000/mm^3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST and ALT less than 2.5 times ULN (unless attributed to liver metastases) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL AND/OR Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No myocardial infarction within past 6 months No congestive heart failure No uncontrolled arrhythmia Other: No other concurrent or prior malignancy within past 5 years except localized basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception HIV negative PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy with clearly progressive disease Concurrent palliative radiotherapy allowed if no evidence of disease progression Surgery: Not specified