Paclitaxel and Carboplatin With or Without Nitroglycerin in Treating Patients With Previously Untreated Stage III or Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer * Stage IIIB or IV disease that cannot be treated by radical irradiation * Tumor lesions must be objectively evaluated according to WHO criteria (maximum diameter is no shorter than twice the slice width and no shorter than 10 mm) by CT scan * No brain metastasis PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-1 * Life expectancy ≥ 3 months * Neutrophil count \> 2,000/μL * Hemoglobin \> 10.0 g/dL * Platelet count \> 100,000/μL * Serum bilirubin \< 2.0 mg/dL * ALT and AST \< 100 IU/L * Serum creatinine \< 2.0 mg/dL * PaO\_2 ≥ 70 mm Hg * No cardiac problems, including any of the following: * Poorly controlled hypertension * Unstable angina * Congestive heart failure * Myocardial infarction within the past year * Ventricular arrhythmia that requires treatment except single, well-controlled isolated ventricular extrasystole * No chronic active hepatitis or cirrhosis requiring treatment except hepatitis virus carriers who do not need treatment * No comorbidity of interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis requiring treatment * No other cancer requiring treatment except a malignant tumor curatively resected with no recurrence * No severe psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia or dementia * Cardiothoracic ratio \< 60% by chest x-ray * No history of severe drug allergy or allergy to polyoxyethylene castor oil (in some anesthetic drugs or muscle relaxants) or polysorbate 80 * Patients in whom nitroglycerin preparations are contraindicated are not eligible, including any of the following: * Severe hypotension (e.g., systolic blood pressure ≤ 80 mm Hg) * Angle-closure glaucoma * History of hypersensitivity to nitrate/nitrite ester drugs * Not pregnant or nursing PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy * Pleurodesis is not considered chemotherapy * At least 1 week since prior and no other concurrent nitric oxide donors (e.g., nitroglycerin) * At least 1 week since prior and no concurrent calcium antagonists * At least 1 week since prior and no concurrent drugs for erectile dysfunction that inhibit phosphodiesterase 5 (e.g., sildenafil citrate or vardenafil hydrochloride hydrate) * More than 24 hours since prior and no concurrent administration of the following: * Antifungal azoles, including ketoconazole, miconazole, or itraconazole * Macrolides, including erythromycin or clarithromycin * Cyclosporines * Benzodiazepines, including diazepam, triazolam, or midazolam * Vitamin A * Steroid hormones, including ethinylestradiol * No concurrent participation in another clinical trial