DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: - Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell carcinoma of the lung, including the following cell types: - Adenocarcinoma - Large cell carcinoma - Squamous cell carcinoma - Mixture of these types - A tissue block must be available at the time of registration - Tumor expresses COX-2 (COX-2 index ≥ 2) - Stage IIIB disease with malignant pleural effusion, supraclavicular node involvement, or contralateral hilar node involvement OR stage IV disease - Patients with stage IIIB disease who are eligible for clinical trials that involve combined chemotherapy and chest irradiation are not eligible for this study - Patients with stage IV disease are eligible - Patients with recurrent disease, not amenable to (or refusing) a potentially "curative therapy," are eligible - Measurable or non-measurable disease - Measurable disease is defined as lesions that can be accurately measured in ≥ 1 dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as ≥ 2 cm with conventional techniques or as ≥ 1 cm with spiral CT scan - Non-measurable disease is defined as all other lesions, including small lesions (longest diameter < 20 mm with conventional techniques or < 10 mm with spiral CT scan) and truly nonmeasurable lesions, including any of the following: - Bone lesions - Leptomeningeal disease - Ascites - Pleural/pericardial effusion - Inflammatory breast disease - Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis - Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques - Cystic lesions - Patients with symptomatic CNS metastases are eligible provided they received prior therapy (e.g., surgery, radiotherapy, or gamma knife), are neurologically stable, and are off steroids for ≥ 14 days before study entry - Patients with asymptomatic CNS metastases without associated edema, shift, or requirement for steroids or antiseizure medications may be eligible after discussion with the Study Chair - Patients should be off steroids at least 7 days before preregistration - No leptomeningeal disease or carcinomatous meningitis PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: - ECOG performance status 0-2 - Granulocytes ≥ 1,500/μL - Platelet count ≥ 100,000/μL - Creatinine clearance ≥ 45 mL/min - Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL - AST and ALT ≤ 2.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (≤ 5.0 times ULN if liver metastases are present) - Serum albumin ≥ 2.5 mg/dL - Not pregnant or nursing - Negative pregnancy test - No "currently active" second malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancer - Patients are not considered to have a "currently active" malignancy if they have completed therapy and are considered by their physician to be at < 30% risk of relapse - No known hypersensitivity to aspirin, NSAIDs, or sulfonamides - No active ulcer disease - No history of gastrointestinal bleeding within the past three years - None of the following cardiovascular conditions within the past 6 months: - Myocardial infarction - Unstable angina - Symptomatic congestive heart failure - Serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia - Cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack - Pulmonary embolism - Symptomatic carotid artery or peripheral vascular disease - Deep vein thrombosis - Other significant thromboembolic event PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: - See Disease Characteristics - No prior chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or other systemic therapy for non-small cell lung cancer, including adjuvant therapy - At least 2 weeks since prior surgery and recovered - At least 7 days since prior radiotherapy - At least 14 days since prior NSAIDs (other than low-dose aspirin [≤ 325 mg daily]), including any of the following: - Celecoxib - Choline Mg - Trisalicylate (Trilisate®) - Ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®) - Naproxen (Aleve®, Naprosyn® or Anaprox®) - Etodolac (Lodine®) - Oxaprozin (Daypro®) - Diflunisal (Dolobid®) - Nabumetone (Relafen®) - Tolmetin (Tolectin®) - Valdecoxib (Bextra®) - No chronic use of NSAIDs (i.e., > 4 weeks of daily use) - Patients on low-dose aspirin are eligible - No other concurrent chemotherapy or hormonal therapy (other than megestrol acetate [Megace] for appetite stimulation) - No other concurrent investigational therapy