Docetaxel With or Without Oblimersen in Treating Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) * Stage IIIB (malignant pleural/pericardial effusion) or IV * Relapsed or refractory disease * Measurable disease that has not been irradiated * Previously treated with 1, and only 1, cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or metastatic setting * No untreated or symptomatic brain metastases or leptomeningeal disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 (without growth factor support) * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * No bleeding or coagulation disorder Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * ALT and AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN * Albumin at least 3.0 g/dL * PT no greater than 1.5 times ULN OR INR no greater than 1.3 * PTT no greater than 1.5 times ULN * No chronic hepatitis * No chronic cirrhosis Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease * No uncontrolled congestive heart failure Pulmonary: * No severe pulmonary disease * No requirement for oxygen due to pneumonectomy * No severe pleural effusion secondary to NSCLC Immunologic: * HIV negative * No active infection * No active autoimmune disease Other: * No other concurrent active cancer * No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus * No uncontrolled seizure disorder * No peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or greater * No active peptic ulcer disease * No other significant medical disease * No intellectual, emotional, or physical disability that would preclude study participation * No neurologic disorders, overt psychosis, mental disability, or evidence of a limited capacity to give informed consent or to comply with study treatment * No known hypersensitivity to phosphorothioate-containing oligonucleotides * No history of hypersensitivity to drugs containing the excipient Tween 80 (polysorbate 80) * Satisfactory venous access for multi-day continuous infusion * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 3 weeks since prior cytokines or vaccine therapy for NSCLC * At least 3 weeks since prior immunotherapy or biologic therapy for NSCLC * No concurrent anticancer biologic therapy Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy for NSCLC * No prior docetaxel * No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent corticosteroids\* except for the following conditions: * CNS disease * Underlying lung disease NOTE: \*Dose must be stable or decreasing for at least 4 weeks before study participation Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy for NSCLC * No prior radiotherapy to 25% or more of bone marrow (e.g., whole pelvis) * No concurrent anticancer radiotherapy Surgery: * At least 3 weeks since prior surgery for NSCLC * No prior organ allograft Other: * Recovered from prior therapy * Prior first-line epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) administered with cytotoxic therapy are allowed * At least 3 weeks since prior investigational drugs * At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy NSCLC * No prior anticancer therapy subsequent to the first (and only) prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen * No prior second-line EGFR therapy * No prior oblimersen (G3139) * No other concurrent investigational or anticancer therapies * No concurrent anticoagulation therapy except for warfarin (1 mg/day) for central line prophylaxis