Paclitaxel and Irinotecan in Treating Patients With Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed metastatic non-small cell lung cancer for which no curative therapy exists * Stage IIIB with pleural effusion allowed * Measurable or evaluable disease * CNS metastases allowed if disease stable at least 4 weeks following completion of surgery and/or radiotherapy and no anticonvulsant required PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * Over 18 Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * At least 3 months Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL * SGOT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (no greater than 5 times ULN if tumor involves liver) Renal: * Creatinine clearance at least 70 mL/min Other: * No other malignancies within past 3 years except nonmelanomatous skin cancer and carcinoma in situ of the cervix * HIV negative * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective birth control * No active infection * No concurrent medical condition that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * No prior systemic chemotherapy for lung cancer * No prior irinotecan or paclitaxel Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior wide field radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy to greater than 20% of bone marrow allowed Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from prior surgery