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

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer, meeting 1 of the following stage criteria: * Stage IIIB disease with malignant pericardial or malignant pleural effusions, as indicated by 1 of the following: * Positive cytology * Exudative effusion AND lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) \> 200 IU with effusion/serum LDH ratio ≥ 0.6 * Stage IV disease * Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion \> 20 mm by conventional techniques OR \> 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Brain metastases allowed provided they have been irradiated AND are radiographically stable for ≥ 28 days after the completion of radiotherapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL Hepatic * AST and ALT normal * Bilirubin normal Renal * Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min Immunologic * No known HIV positivity * No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 * No clinically significant active infection Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception before, during, and for 4 weeks after completion of study treatment * No other primary malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No other serious systemic disorder that would preclude study participation * No other condition that would preclude study compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Prior antibody-based therapy that targets growth factor pathways (e.g., epidermal growth factor receptor \[EGFR\]) allowed provided there is disease progression during therapy and patient has recovered * No concurrent immunotherapy * No concurrent prophylactic colony-stimulating factors * No concurrent interleukin-11 Chemotherapy * No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * No concurrent hormonal therapy for the malignancy Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * More than 28 days since prior radiotherapy and recovered * No prior radiotherapy to ≥ 25% of the bone marrow * No prior radiotherapy to sites of measurable disease unless there is documented tumor progression after completion of radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * No concurrent surgery for the malignancy Other * More than 3 weeks since prior investigational drugs * Prior oral small molecule drug therapy that targets growth factor pathways (e.g., EGFR) allowed provided there is disease progression during therapy and patient has recovered * No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies for the malignancy