Genetic Changes in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Who Are Receiving Vinorelbine and Gemcitabine Before Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed non-small cell carcinoma of the lung * May be confirmed at the initial bronchoscopy and mediastinoscopy * Stage IB (T2, N0, M0) * Stage IIA (T1, N1, M0) * Stage IIB (T2-3, N0-1, M0) * Stage IIIA (T1-3, N1-2, M0) * stage IIIB (2 lesions in 1 lobe \[T4\]) * No N3 lymph nodes (contralateral mediastinal/hilar and supraclavicular/scaline) OR T4 primary tumor (malignant pleural effusion or mediastinal invasion) by clinical staging criteria (seen on CT or PET scan and proven by mediastinoscopy) * No metastatic disease (except N1 or N2 disease) or malignant pleural effusion\* detected on preoperative evaluation * No exudative effusions (even if cytologically negative) * Pleural fluid is considered exudative if the following apply: * Ratio of pleural fluid protein to serum protein is greater than 0.5 * Ratio of pleural fluid lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) to serum LDH is at least 0.6 * Pleural fluid LDH is greater than 200 IU/L * No multiple areas of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake\*\* outside the area of the primary tumor in the lung NOTE: \*Effusions visible only on CT scan and not large enough for safe thoracentesis are allowed NOTE: \*\*If only 1 area shows an increase in FDG uptake, the area of concern requires further evaluation (e.g., biopsy) to exclude metastatic disease * Bidimensionally measurable or evaluable disease\* NOTE: \*Lesions apparent on chest CT scan (e.g., ill-defined masses associated with post obstructive changes and mediastinal or hilar adenopathy measurable in 1 dimension) are considered evaluable PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Not specified Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * AST or ALT no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Deemed medically fit for surgical resection * No other active malignancy within the past 2 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No psychological, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude study compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Concurrent participation in the RPCI vaccine study (postoperative vaccination with autologous tumor-associated antigen-pulsed dendritic cells) is allowed Chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy for lung cancer * No concurrent participation in another study involving other chemotherapy agents Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy for lung cancer * No concurrent participation in another study involving radiotherapy Surgery * No prior surgery for lung cancer * More than 3 months since other prior major surgery (e.g., coronary artery bypass graft) Other * No other prior therapy for lung cancer * No other concurrent antineoplastic agents * Concurrent participation in observational studies requiring bloodwork, radiographs, pulmonary function tests, or quality of life studies is allowed