Gemcitabine and Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Recurrent Stage III or Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer, including any of the following types: * Squamous cell carcinoma * Adenocarcinoma, including bronchoalveolar cell adenocarcinoma * Large cell anaplastic carcinoma, including giant and clear cell carcinomas * Histologic or cytologic documentation of recurrence is required * Measurable or evaluable disease, defined as any mass reproducibly measurable in 2 perpendicular diameters by physical examination or imaging * The following lesions are not considered measurable or evaluable: * Bone disease only * Pleural or pericardial effusions * Previously irradiated lesions, unless subsequent progression is documented * CNS metastases allowed provided the patient undergoes at least 2 weeks of radiotherapy prior to study entry PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Negative pregnancy test * CALGB performance status ≤ 1 * Life expectancy ≥ 3 months * Granulocyte count \> 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Creatinine ≤ 2 times normal * Bilirubin normal * SGOT and/or SGPT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AND alkaline phosphatase ≤ 1.5 times ULN OR * Alkaline phosphatase 4 times ULN and SGOT and/or SGPT normal * Ejection fraction normal by ECHO or MUGA * No history of congestive heart failure * No psychiatric illness that would preclude study compliance * No serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude giving informed consent or limit survival to \< 3 months * No active uncontrolled bacterial, fungal, or viral infection * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or breast, basal cell or squamous carcinoma of the skin, or other surgically resected non-recurrent primary tumor not treated with adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy * No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered from acute effects * At least 2 weeks since prior palliative radiotherapy and recovered from acute toxic effects * Any persistent toxicity (e.g., alopecia or hyperpigmentation) not associated with clinical morbidity allowed * No prior chemotherapy * No concurrent cranial or thoracic radiation therapy * No concurrent cytotoxic or hormonal therapy * Concurrent palliative radiotherapy allowed for relief of localized pain and obstruction