Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
* Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer
* Stage IIIB or IV
* Currently receiving first- or second-line antineoplastic therapy (must be scheduled to receive therapy during the 12 weeks of study therapy)
* Antineoplastic therapy may include single agent or combination chemotherapy, corticosteroids, or a combination of these agents
* Hemoglobin no greater than 11 g/dL
* Transfusion independent
* No known primary or metastatic CNS malignancy
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
Age
* 18 and over
Performance status
* ECOG 0-2
Life expectancy
* More than 6 months
Hematopoietic
* See Disease Characteristics
* Platelet count 50,000-500,000/mm\^3
* No functional iron deficiency\* (e.g., transferrin saturation less than 20% OR serum ferritin less than 100 ng/mL)
* No known hemolysis NOTE: \*Concurrent iron supplementation to correct deficiency allowed
Hepatic
* Not specified
Renal
* Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
Cardiovascular
* No clinically significant hypertension
Other
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
* No acute or chronic bleeding requiring therapy within the past 3 months (e.g., patients with anemia caused by gastrointestinal bleeding)
* No known cyanocobalamin deficiency
* No known folic acid deficiency
* No acute infection or inflammatory disease (C-reactive protein greater than 50 mg/L)
* No known resistance to epoetin administration
* No newly diagnosed (i.e., within the past 6 months) or uncontrolled epilepsy
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
Biologic therapy
* More than 8 weeks since prior recombinant human erythropoietin therapy or any other erythropoiesis-stimulating drugs
Chemotherapy
* See Disease Characteristics
Endocrine therapy
* See Disease Characteristics
Radiotherapy
* More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
Surgery
* Not specified
Other
* More than 4 weeks since prior red blood cell transfusion
* More than 30 days since prior investigational drugs or regimens
* No prior enrollment and randomization to this study
* No other concurrent investigational drugs or regimens