Vinorelbine Tartrate and Paclitaxel in Treating Older Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Pathologically proven non-small cell lung cancer with evidence of distant metastases/malignant pleural effusion * Measurable disease on imaging studies in 2 dimensions * No previous therapy with either paclitaxel or vinorelbine, or any chemotherapy for the past five years * Patients who have had a previous resection for their lung cancer and present with recurrent disease will be eligible * Patients with other prior malignancies will be included, provided they have been disease-free for at least five years * Patients with adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, adequately treated carcinoma in-situ of the cervix and hormone sensitive prostate cancer will be eligible * Karnofsky score \>= 70 (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group \[ECOG\] 0-2) * White blood cell (WBC) count \>= 3,500/mm\^3, OR * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1,500/ul * Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3 * Serum creatinine less than 1.5 times the upper limits of normal * Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) less than 1.5 times the upper limits of normal * Serum alkaline phosphatase less than 2.5 times the upper limits of normal * No active serious infections or other condition precluding chemotherapy * Non-pregnant and non-nursing * Men and women of reproductive potential may not participate unless they have agreed to use an effective contraceptive method while on the study * Able to give informed consent * Able to return for treatment and follow-up as specified in the protocol Exclusion Criteria: * Known hypersensitivity to any component of vinorelbine or paclitaxel or other required drugs in the study * Any comorbidity or condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the assessments and procedures of this protocol * Inability to fulfill the requirements of the protocol