Combination Chemotherapy and Celecoxib in Treating Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) meeting 1 of the following criteria:

Stage IV
Stage IIIB with a malignant pleural effusion
Locally recurrent and/or persistent disease after locoregional therapy with or without systemic chemotherapy

Unidimensionally measurable disease

If the only site of measurable disease is in a previously irradiated area must have documented progression of disease in that area
No CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

18 and over

Performance status

ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

Not specified

Hematopoietic

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

Hepatic

Bilirubin normal
AST and ALT less than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (if alkaline phosphatase is normal)
Alkaline phosphatase less than 4 times ULN (if AST and ALT are normal)

Renal

Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL

Other

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study treatment
No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
No diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease or gastritis/esophagitis within the past 60 days
No prior hypersensitivity to cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), salicylates, sulfonamides, or drugs formulated with polysorbate 80
No pre-existing grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy
No concurrent medical condition that would preclude study compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

At least 1 week since prior biologic therapy

Phase I patients:

Any number of prior biologic therapies allowed (e.g., chimeric antibodies or kinase inhibitors)

Phase II patients:

No prior biologic therapy for recurrent/metastatic disease
No concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF)

Chemotherapy

See Disease Characteristics
At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
No prior irinotecan or docetaxel

Phase I patients:

Up to 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for recurrent/metastatic disease allowed (chemonaïve patients are also eligible)

Phase II patients:

At least 1 year since prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy for stage I-IIIA disease
No prior chemotherapy for recurrent/metastatic disease

Endocrine therapy

Less than 2 weeks of cumulative oral/IV corticosteroid use within the past 3 months

Radiotherapy

See Disease Characteristics
Recovered from prior radiotherapy
At least 3 weeks since prior extensive-field radiotherapy for recurrent/metastatic disease

Surgery

Recovered from prior surgery

Other

More than 60 days since prior treatment for peptic ulcer disease or gastritis/esophagitis
No prior NSAIDs at a frequency of more than 3 times per week for a cumulative period of more than 2 weeks within the past 30 days
No concurrent antiepileptics, cyclosporine, aspirin, or fluconazole
No concurrent NSAIDs
No other concurrent COX-2 inhibitors