ABI-007 in Treating Patients With Chemotherapy-Naïve Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IV non-small cell lung cancer

  * Evidence of inoperable local recurrence or metastasis

    * Bone metastases or other nonmeasurable disease may not be only evidence of metastasis
* Measurable disease documented radiographically
* No evidence of active brain metastases or leptomeningeal involvement

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* 18 and over

Performance status

* ECOG 0-1 OR
* Karnofsky 80-100%

Life expectancy

* More than 12 weeks

Hematopoietic

* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL

Hepatic

* AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Bilirubin normal
* Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN (unless due to bone metastases and there is no radiologic evidence of hepatic metastases)

Renal

* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL

Other

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception for 1 month before and during study participation
* No prior allergy or hypersensitivity to study drug
* No other concurrent active malignancy
* No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy grade 1 or greater
* No other concurrent clinically significant illness
* No concurrent serious medical risk factor involving any of the major organ systems that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* Not specified

Chemotherapy

* No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease
* More than 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic chemotherapy
* No concurrent doxorubicin
* No other concurrent taxanes
* No concurrent anthracyclines

Endocrine therapy

* Not specified

Radiotherapy

* At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy to a major bone marrow-containing area
* More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy except to a non-target lesion

  * Prior radiotherapy to a target lesion allowed provided there has been clear progression of the lesion since completion of radiotherapy

Surgery

* Not specified

Other

* Prior epidermal growth factor-targeted therapy allowed
* More than 4 weeks since prior investigational drugs
* No concurrent enrollment in another clinical trial in which investigational drugs are administered or investigational procedures are performed
* No concurrent treatment with any of the following:

  * Ritonavir
  * Saquinavir
  * Indinavir
  * Nelfinavir
* No concurrent anticonvulsants
* No other concurrent anticancer drugs
* No other concurrent investigational drugs