Paclitaxel Albumin-Stabilized Nanoparticle Formulation and Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB, Stage IV, or Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) meeting 1 of the following criteria:

Stage IIIB disease with malignant pleural effusion
Stage IV disease
Recurrent disease
Squamous cell histology allowed
Not eligible for curative treatment or treatment with bevacizumab
Measurable disease according to RECIST
Tumor (paraffin blocks or slides) must be available for correlative biomarker studies

No uncontrolled brain metastases (or leptomeningeal disease)

Controlled brain metastases allowed

Able to receive appropriate therapeutic radiotherapy
Able to taper off all steroids without symptoms suggestive of increased intracranial pressure (nausea, vomiting, focal neurologic symptoms) for at least 7 days

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance status 0-2
ANC (absolute neutrophil count) ≥ 1.5 x 10^9/L
Platelets ≥ 100 x 10^9/L
Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/L
Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) < 2.5 times upper limit of normal
Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance > 50 mg/mL
No known HIV or hepatitis B or C
Not pregnant
Negative pregnancy test
Thrombotic or embolic event within the past 6 months allowed, provided adequately controlled with therapeutic anticoagulation
Hemoptysis allowed, provided it is not life threatening or requires palliative procedures (e.g., endobronchial therapy or radiotherapy)

No cardiac disease, including any of the following:

NYHA (New York Heart Association) class III-IV congestive heart failure
Unstable angina (angina symptoms at rest)
New onset angina (began within the past 3 months)
Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
No uncontrolled hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) > 150 mm Hg or diastolic BP > 90 mm Hg despite optimal medical management
No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
No active clinically serious infection > CTCAE grade 2
No serious non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
No significant traumatic injury within the past 4 weeks
No evidence or history of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy

No prior malignancy, except for adequately treated basal cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other cancer for which the patient has been disease-free for 2 years

Stage I (T1c) prostate cancer adequately treated 2 years prior to diagnosis of NSCLC allowed, however metastatic prostate cancer currently receiving hormonal therapy or chemotherapy is not allowed
No significant psychiatric illness, in the opinion of the principal investigator, that would prevent adequate informed consent or render therapy unsafe

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

See Disease Characteristics
Concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation, > 325 mg acetylsalicylic acid, or chronic non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug use allowed
At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent radiotherapy
More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery or open biopsy