Carboplatin and Gemcitabine Combined With Celecoxib and/or Zileuton in Treating Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of 1 of the following cellular types:

  * Adenocarcinoma
  * Large cell
  * Squamous cell
  * Mixed
* Meets 1 of the following staging criteria:

  * Stage IIIB disease with malignant pleural effusion, supraclavicular node involvement, or contralateral hilar nodes

    * Stage IIIB patients eligible for Cancer and Leukemia Group B protocols of combined chemotherapy and chest irradiation are not allowed
  * Stage IV disease
* Measurable or nonmeasurable disease

  * Unidimensionally measurable lesions at least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  * The following are considered nonmeasurable disease:

    * Bone lesions
    * Ascites
    * Pleural/pericardial effusion
    * Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis
    * Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
    * Cystic lesions
    * Small lesions
* No leptomeningeal disease
* Symptomatic CNS metastases must be treated (e.g., surgery, radiotherapy, or gamma knife), neurologically stable, and off steroids

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* 18 and over

Performance status

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

* Not specified

Hematopoietic

* Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
* AST no greater than 2.0 times upper limit of normal

Renal

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

* None of the following within the past 6 months:

  * Myocardial infarction
  * Unstable angina
  * Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  * Serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia
  * Cerebrovascular accident
  * Transient ischemic attack
  * Symptomatic carotid artery or peripheral vascular disease
  * Deep vein thrombosis
  * Significant thromboembolic event

Pulmonary

* No pulmonary embolism within the past 6 months

Gastrointestinal

* No history of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
* No history of peptic ulcer disease
* No active GI bleeding

Other

* Not pregnant or nursing
* No known hypersensitivity to aspirin, NSAIDs, or sulfonamides
* No currently active second malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer

  * Patients are not considered to have a currently active malignancy if they have completed therapy and are considered by their physician to be at less than 30% risk of relapse

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* No prior immunotherapy for NSCLC

Chemotherapy

* No prior chemotherapy for NSCLC
* No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* No concurrent chronic oral steroids

  * Concurrent episodic steroids for antiemetic purposes allowed
* No concurrent hormonal therapy
* Concurrent inhaled steroids allowed when medically indicated
* Concurrent megestrol for appetite stimulation is allowed

Radiotherapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 2 weeks since prior surgery and recovered

Other

* No prior systemic treatments for NSCLC
* No other concurrent investigational therapy
* At least 1 week since prior nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including any of the following:

  * Rofecoxib
  * Choline magnesium trisalicylate
  * Ibuprofen
  * Naproxen
  * Etodolac
  * Oxaprozin
  * Diflunisal
  * Nabumetone
  * Tolmetin
  * Valdecoxib
* No concurrent NSAIDs
* No concurrent chronic aspirin

  * Concurrent aspirin no greater than 325 mg/day is allowed
* No concurrent fluconazole
* No concurrent leukotriene antagonists (e.g., zafirlukast, montelukast, or pranlukast)