Gemcitabine and Carboplatin Followed By Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB or Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Carboplatin IV over 30-60 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

"Arm I (immediate docetaxel): Patients receive immediate docetaxel IV over 1 hour on day 1.~Arm II (delayed docetaxel): Patients are observed until first evidence of disease progression and then receive docetaxel IV over 1 hour on day 1.~In both arms, treatment repeats every 3 weeks for up to 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity."

Gemcitabine IV over 30-60 minutes on days 1 and 8. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.