Vinorelbine and Bevacizumab in Treating Older Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) * Stage IIIB (any T, N3, M0 OR T4, any N, M0, OR pleural effusion) OR stage IV (any T, any N, M1) disease * Mixed tumors will be categorized by the predominant cell type unless small cell elements are present, in which case the patient is ineligible * Measurable or evaluable disease * No lung carcinoma of squamous cell histology or any histology in close proximity to a major vessel or cavitation * No known brain metastases, even if treated PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * No other malignancies within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer * ECOG performance status 0-1 * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * Transaminases ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Urine protein:creatinine ratio \< 1 * INR ≤ 1.5 * PTT normal * No prior ileus or neuropathy compromising use of vinorelbine ditartate * Patients with a history of hypertension must be well controlled (blood pressure \< 150/100 mm Hg) on a stable regimen of antihypertensive therapy * None of the following conditions: * Unstable angina * New York Heart Association grade II-IV congestive heart failure * Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * Stroke within the past 6 months * Evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy * Clinically significant peripheral vascular disease * Serious, nonhealing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture * History of hemoptysis (bright red blood ≥ ½ teaspoon) * No significant traumatic injury within the past 4 weeks * No abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 6 months * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No prior chemotherapy for NSCLC * More than 4 weeks since prior and no concurrent participation in another experimental drug study * More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy, hormonal therapy, or radiotherapy and recovered * More than 28 days since prior major surgical procedure or open biopsy * No anticipation of need for major surgery during course of trial * More than 7 days since prior minor surgical procedures (e.g., fine-needle aspiration or core biopsy) * No concurrent full-dose anticoagulation therapy for thromboembolic disease, aspirin (\> 325 mg/day), or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs