Docetaxel With or Without Infliximab in Treating Weight Loss, Loss of Appetite, and Fatigue in Patients With Unresectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Infliximab Treatment Discontinued Effective 10/05/05)

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed unresectable non-small cell lung cancer that is considered incurable with other therapies * Chemotherapy naive or previously treated disease * Meets one of the following criteria: * Age 65 and over with ECOG performance status of 0-2 * Under age 65 with ECOG performance status of 2 * No symptomatic or known untreated brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * See Disease Characteristics * Adult Performance status: * See Disease Characteristics * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * At least 3 months Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin normal * AST and/or ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) if alkaline phosphatase less than ULN OR * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 4 times ULN if ALT less than ULN * No ascites Renal: * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: * No prior or concurrent congestive heart failure Pulmonary: * No prior tuberculosis or positive purified protein derivative skin test (tuberculin test) Other: * No prior anaphylactic reaction to any taxane * No known mechanical obstruction of the alimentary tract, malabsorption, or intractable vomiting (more than 5 episodes per week) * No infection or chronic debilitating illness that would increase the risk of chemotherapy administration * No grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy of any etiology * No edema * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * Alert and mentally competent * Able to complete questionnaires alone or with assistance * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior docetaxel for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer Endocrine therapy: * At least 1 month since prior adrenal steroids, androgens, progestational agents, or appetite stimulants * No concurrent adrenal steroids, androgens, progestational agents, or appetite stimulants unless needed (e.g., steroids for CNS metastases) * Concurrent inhaled, topical, or optical steroids allowed * Concurrent short-term dexamethasone around days of chemotherapy administration allowed for protection against anaphylaxis and emesis Radiotherapy: * More than 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of bone marrow Surgery: * More than 3 weeks since prior major surgery Other: * More than 3 weeks since other prior antineoplastic therapy