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

PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of vinorelbine taken by mouth in treating older patients who have stage IIIB or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the objective response rate in elderly patients with stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer treated with oral vinorelbine. II. Determine the time to progression in patients treated with this drug. III. Determine the toxicity of this drug in these patients. IV. Determine whether there is a perceived preference for this oral administration in these patients. V. Determine the quality of life of these patients when treated with this drug. VI. Assess individual variation in responses, pharmacokinetic parameters, and/or biological correlates in patients treated with this drug.

OUTLINE: Patients receive oral vinorelbine on days 1, 8, 15, and 22. Treatment repeats every 28 days for 4-6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Quality of life is assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks of therapy. Patients are followed every 3 months for 5 years.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer Measurable disease At least 1 lesion that is 2.0 cm or more in longest diameter CNS metastases allowed if previously treated and clinically stable for at least 8 weeks prior to study No meningeal carcinomatosis Participation in translational research component of this study is mandatory

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 65 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 10.0 g/dL Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal Other: No dysphagia or inability to swallow capsules intact No peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or greater No other significant medical condition that would preclude study No active infection within the past 2 weeks No other malignancy within the past 5 years

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy for this disease within the past 5 years Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of bone marrow No prior radiotherapy to measurable lesion unless documented progression after therapy No concurrent radiotherapy, including palliative radiotherapy Surgery: At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery