Carboplatin and Gemcitabine Combined With Celecoxib and/or Zileuton in Treating Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of 1 of the following cellular types:

Adenocarcinoma
Large cell
Squamous cell
Mixed

Meets 1 of the following staging criteria:

Stage IIIB disease with malignant pleural effusion, supraclavicular node involvement, or contralateral hilar nodes

Stage IIIB patients eligible for Cancer and Leukemia Group B protocols of combined chemotherapy and chest irradiation are not allowed
Stage IV disease

Measurable or nonmeasurable disease

Unidimensionally measurable lesions at least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan

The following are considered nonmeasurable disease:

Bone lesions
Ascites
Pleural/pericardial effusion
Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis
Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
Cystic lesions
Small lesions
No leptomeningeal disease
Symptomatic CNS metastases must be treated (e.g., surgery, radiotherapy, or gamma knife), neurologically stable, and off steroids

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

18 and over

Performance status

ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

Not specified

Hematopoietic

Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
AST no greater than 2.0 times upper limit of normal

Renal

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

None of the following within the past 6 months:

Myocardial infarction
Unstable angina
Symptomatic congestive heart failure
Serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia
Cerebrovascular accident
Transient ischemic attack
Symptomatic carotid artery or peripheral vascular disease
Deep vein thrombosis
Significant thromboembolic event

Pulmonary

No pulmonary embolism within the past 6 months

Gastrointestinal

No history of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
No history of peptic ulcer disease
No active GI bleeding

Other

Not pregnant or nursing
No known hypersensitivity to aspirin, NSAIDs, or sulfonamides

No currently active second malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer

Patients are not considered to have a currently active malignancy if they have completed therapy and are considered by their physician to be at less than 30% risk of relapse

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

No prior immunotherapy for NSCLC

Chemotherapy

No prior chemotherapy for NSCLC
No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

See Disease Characteristics

No concurrent chronic oral steroids

Concurrent episodic steroids for antiemetic purposes allowed
No concurrent hormonal therapy
Concurrent inhaled steroids allowed when medically indicated
Concurrent megestrol for appetite stimulation is allowed

Radiotherapy

See Disease Characteristics
At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery

See Disease Characteristics
At least 2 weeks since prior surgery and recovered

Other

No prior systemic treatments for NSCLC
No other concurrent investigational therapy

At least 1 week since prior nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including any of the following:

Rofecoxib
Choline magnesium trisalicylate
Ibuprofen
Naproxen
Etodolac
Oxaprozin
Diflunisal
Nabumetone
Tolmetin
Valdecoxib
No concurrent NSAIDs

No concurrent chronic aspirin

Concurrent aspirin no greater than 325 mg/day is allowed
No concurrent fluconazole
No concurrent leukotriene antagonists (e.g., zafirlukast, montelukast, or pranlukast)