Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Tirapazamine in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB or Stage IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically proven newly diagnosed advanced primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including the following cellular types: * Adenocarcinoma * Large cell carcinoma * Squamous cell carcinoma * Unspecified carcinoma OR * Recurrent disease after prior surgery and/or radiotherapy * Stage IIIB disease * T4 lesion due to malignant pleural effusion OR * Stage IV disease * Any T, any N, M1 (distant metastasis, including lesions in multiple lobes of the ipsilateral lung) * Measurable or evaluable disease * Pleural effusions, ascites, and laboratory parameters not considered as only evidence of disease * Must be outside prior radiated field or area of prior surgical resection or new lesion must be present * No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Zubrod 0-1 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * SGOT or SGPT no greater than 2 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN Renal: * Creatinine no greater than ULN * Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No peripheral neuropathy (motor or sensory) of grade 2 or greater * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or stage I/II cancer in complete remission PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No prior biologic therapy for NSCLC Chemotherapy: * No prior systemic chemotherapy for NSCLC Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 2 weeks since prior thoracic or other major surgery and recovered