Gemcitabine and Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Recurrent Stage III or Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer, including any of the following types:

  * Squamous cell carcinoma
  * Adenocarcinoma, including bronchoalveolar cell adenocarcinoma
  * Large cell anaplastic carcinoma, including giant and clear cell carcinomas
* Histologic or cytologic documentation of recurrence is required
* Measurable or evaluable disease, defined as any mass reproducibly measurable in 2 perpendicular diameters by physical examination or imaging

  * The following lesions are not considered measurable or evaluable:

    * Bone disease only
    * Pleural or pericardial effusions
    * Previously irradiated lesions, unless subsequent progression is documented
* CNS metastases allowed provided the patient undergoes at least 2 weeks of radiotherapy prior to study entry

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* Negative pregnancy test
* CALGB performance status ≤ 1
* Life expectancy ≥ 3 months
* Granulocyte count \> 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
* Creatinine ≤ 2 times normal
* Bilirubin normal
* SGOT and/or SGPT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AND alkaline phosphatase ≤ 1.5 times ULN OR
* Alkaline phosphatase 4 times ULN and SGOT and/or SGPT normal
* Ejection fraction normal by ECHO or MUGA
* No history of congestive heart failure
* No psychiatric illness that would preclude study compliance
* No serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude giving informed consent or limit survival to \< 3 months
* No active uncontrolled bacterial, fungal, or viral infection
* No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or breast, basal cell or squamous carcinoma of the skin, or other surgically resected non-recurrent primary tumor not treated with adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy
* No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered from acute effects
* At least 2 weeks since prior palliative radiotherapy and recovered from acute toxic effects

  * Any persistent toxicity (e.g., alopecia or hyperpigmentation) not associated with clinical morbidity allowed
* No prior chemotherapy
* No concurrent cranial or thoracic radiation therapy
* No concurrent cytotoxic or hormonal therapy
* Concurrent palliative radiotherapy allowed for relief of localized pain and obstruction