Two Regimens of Docetaxel in Treating Patients Who Have Not Received Chemotherapy For Unresectable Stage IIIB or Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as docetaxel, use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. It is not yet known which docetaxel regimen is more effective for non-small cell lung cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase II trial to compare the effectiveness of two regimens of docetaxel in treating patients who have not previously received chemotherapy for unresectable stage IIIB or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.