S9714: Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB or Stage IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven Stage IIIB or IV bronchioloalveolar non-small cell lung carcinoma -incompletely resected or unresectable -tumors may be multifocal or diffuse -measurable or evaluable disease required No prior brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance Status: SWOG 0-2 Life Expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT no greater than 2 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than institutional ULN OR creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Other: Not pregnant or nursing Effective contraceptive method used while on study No prior malignancies allowed, except: basal or squamous cell skin cancer in situ cervical cancer Stage I or II cancer which is in remission Any cancer from which patients have been disease free for 5 years PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior biologic therapy for lung cancer Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior radiation therapy (including palliative radiotherapy) Surgery: Prior surgery is allowed