Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

  • Metastatic supraclavicular lymphadenopathy or malignant pleural effusion
  • Progressive disease
  • Must have received prior chemotherapy
• No symptomatic brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 to 75

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST and ALT no greater than 1.25 times ULN

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.25 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

• No prior or concurrent cardiovascular disease that would preclude study

Pulmonary:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior or concurrent pulmonary disease that would preclude study

Other:

• No prior or other concurrent illness or medical condition that would preclude study
• No other prior malignancy except adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or nonmelanomatous skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior docetaxel
• At least 3 weeks since other prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• Prior radiotherapy allowed
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

• Prior radical surgery for NSCLC allowed
• Concurrent palliative surgery allowed