Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung
cancer Stage IV disease OR Recurrent unresectable disease No other conventional curative
or significant palliative therapies available Measurable disease At least one lesion a
minimum of one dimension in diameter of at least 20 mm No symptomatic and/or untreated CNS
metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 65 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At
least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count
at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: AST no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal Renal:
Creatinine clearance at least 40 mL/min Other: No uncontrolled infection No uncontrolled
seizure disorder No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus No other malignancies within the past 3
years except adequately treated basal or squamous cell skin cancer or noninvasive
carcinomas

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior biologic or immunotherapy for
recurrent or metastatic disease No concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy: No prior
chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease except as radiosensitizer No other
concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior
radiotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease except as adjuvant therapy At least 4
weeks since prior radiotherapy to greater than 25% of bone marrow No concurrent
radiotherapy except for CNS therapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics At least 3 weeks
since prior major surgery