Gemcitabine and Carboplatin Followed by Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) of any of the following histologic types: * Squamous cell * Adenocarcinoma * Large cell carcinoma * Unspecified * Evidence of at least 1 of the following criteria: * Newly diagnosed inoperable stage IIIB (pleural effusion) disease * Patients with stage III disease who are unable to undergo combined modality therapy * Stage IV disease * Recurrent non-small cell lung cancer regardless of site * Diagnosis based on sputum cytology acceptable if confirmed by an independent pathologic review * Patients must have measurable or evaluable disease * Measurable or evaluable disease must be outside the previous radiation field or a new lesion must be present * Patients with brain metastases are eligible, provided they are either asymptomatic (no neurological symptoms or signs, no evidence of midline shift), or controlled (i.e., after surgical resection or radiotherapy/radiosurgery), and off all steroid therapy for at least two weeks with no evidence of progression by symptoms or radiologic imaging PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status of 2 or 3 OR HIV-positive OR underwent prior status post organ transplantation * No active serious infection (except for HIV infection) * No symptomatic, untreated malignant pericardial effusion * No congestive heart failure * No other serious underlying medical condition that would otherwise impair their ability to receive protocol treat…