Tipifarnib, Gemcitabine, and Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed NSCLC with one of the following classifications: * Stage IIIB with pleural effusion * Stage IIIB and not a candidate for combined modality treatment with radiation therapy and chemotherapy * Stage IV * Measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion whose longest diameter can be accurately measured as \>= 2.0 cm * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1500/mm\^3 * PLT \>= 100,000 * Hgb \> 10.0 g/dL * Direct bilirubin =\< 1.5 x UNL * Alkaline phosphatase =\< 5 x UNL * AST =\< 3 x UNL * Creatinine =\< 1.5 x UNL * ECOG Performance Status (PS) 0 or 1 * Capable of understanding the investigational nature, potential risks and benefits of the study and able to provide valid informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Any of the following as this regimen may be harmful to a developing fetus or nursing child: * Pregnant women * Breastfeeding women * Men or women of childbearing potential or their sexual partners who are unwilling to employ adequate contraception (condoms, diaphragm, birth control pills, injections, intrauterine device \[IUD\], surgical sterilization, subcutaneous implants, or abstinence, etc.) * Any of the following prior therapies: * Prior chemotherapy for NSCLC (exception: therapies used as a radiosensitizer such as low-dose weekly cisplatin and carbo/taxol with XRT) * Prior radiation \> 25% of bone marrow * Prior immunotherapy, biologic or gene therapy * New York Heart Association classification III or IV * CNS metastases * Uncontrolled infection * Any other severe, underlying diseases that are, in the judgment of the investigator, inappropriate for entry into this study * Prior malignancy, except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, adequately treated noninvasive carcinomas, or other cancer from which the patient has been disease-free for at least five years * Pre-existing peripheral neuropathy (motor or sensory) \> grade 1 per NCI Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) * Known peripheral vascular disease or a history of deep vein thrombosis