RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. It is not yet known if cisplatin and vinorelbine are more effective with or without tirapazamine in treating non-small cell lung cancer

PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of cisplatin plus vinorelbine with or without tirapazamine in treating patients who have stage IIIB or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the overall survival duration of patients with stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer treated with vinorelbine and cisplatin with or without tirapazamine. II. Compare the complete and partial response rates, time to disease progression, and time to treatment failure in these patients treated with these regimens. III. Compare the clinical benefit of these regimens, in terms of performance status and body weight, in these patients. IV. Compare the toxicity and safety of these regimens in these patients. V. Compare the quality of life of patients treated with these regimens.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. Arm I: Patients receive tirapazamine IV over 2 hours followed by cisplatin IV over 1 hour on day 1. Patients also receive vinorelbine IV over 6-10 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, and 22. Arm II: Patients receive cisplatin and vinorelbine as in arm I. Treatment repeats every 28 days for a total of 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Quality of life is assessed at baseline, during each course of treatment, at 30 days after the last course of treatment, and then every 8 weeks for 2-3 years. Patients are followed every 8 weeks for 2-3 years.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 800 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Stage IIIB or IV Newly diagnosed or recurrent disease Measurable lesions At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan OR At least 20 mm by conventional techniques Previously irradiated lesions are considered measurable provided they progressed or appeared after completion of radiotherapy The following are considered nonmeasurable: Pleural or pericardial effusions Cystic lesions Lymphangitis pulmonis Bony x-ray abnormalities Abnormal scans with nonmeasurable filling defects No symptomatic brain metastasis or CNS involvement by CT scan or MRI

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT no greater than 2 times ULN Renal: Creatinine normal Other: No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or basal cell carcinoma that is not likely to recur No history of allergic reactions to diuretics or antiemetics (e.g., 5-HT3 antagonists) used on this study Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior immunotherapy or biologic therapy for NSCLC Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy for NSCLC No prior platinum-based chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No prior radiotherapy to potential indicator lesion(s) At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: Recovered from prior surgical procedure(s) Other: At least 30 days since prior investigational drug