RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die.

PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of paclitaxel in treating patients who have extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the complete and overall response rate to paclitaxel in patients with previously untreated extensive stage small cell lung cancer. II. Determine the overall and progression free survival of these patients in response to this treatment regimen. III. Determine the toxicity of this treatment regimen in this patient population.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients receive paclitaxel IV over 3 hours weekly for 6 consecutive weeks. Treatment continues every 8 weeks for 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients are followed every 2 months for 1 year, then every 3 months for 2 years, and then annually for 2 years.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed extensive stage small cell carcinoma of the bronchus Extrathoracic metastatic disease, malignant pleural effusion, bilateral or contralateral supraclavicular adenopathy or contralateral hilar adenopathy Measurable disease One lesion that measures at least 20 mm in diameter using conventional techniques or at least 10 mm with spiral CT scan Lesions not considered measurable include: Bone lesions Leptomeningeal disease Ascites Pleural/pericardial effusion Cystic lesions Tumor lesions situated in a previously irradiated area Abdominal masses not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques No disease restricted to one hemithorax with regional lymph node metastases, including hilar, ipsilateral and contralateral mediastinal, and/or ipsilateral supraclavicular nodes

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: CTC 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: SGOT less than 2 times upper limit of normal Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL Renal: Not specified Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent hormonal therapy except steroids for renal failure or hormones administered for nondisease related conditions Radiotherapy: At least two weeks since prior radiotherapy No concurrent palliative radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified