DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed nonsquamous cell non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including the following cell types:

  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Bronchoalveolar
  • Large cell carcinoma

• Stage IIIB or IV NSCLC

  • Patients with stage IIIB disease must have a pleural effusion OR not be a candidate for chemoradiotherapy as treatment for locally advanced disease

• Unidimensionally measurable or evaluable disease

  • Disease in a prior radiation port must have documented progression
• No tumor with cavitation or close proximity to a major vessel

• No CNS or untreated brain metastases

  • Treated brain metastases allowed provided there is no evidence of progression or hemorrhage after treatment and no ongoing requirement for dexamethasone, as determined by clinical examination and brain imaging (MRI or CT) during the screening period

    • Treatment for brain metastases may include whole brain radiotherapy, radiosurgery (i.e., Gamma Knife, LINAC, or equivalent) or a combination as deemed appropriate by the treating physician
    • Stable-dose anticonvulsants allowed
  • Patients with CNS metastases treated by neurosurgical resection or brain biopsy performed within 3 months prior to Day 1 are not allowed
• No clinically significant effusion that cannot be drained
• No disease that cannot be radiologically imaged

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-1
• Life expectancy > 12 weeks
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Hemoglobin > 8 g/dL
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 3 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver has tumor involvement)
• AST and ALT ≤ 3 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver has tumor involvement)
• Creatinine clearance ≥ 45 mL/min
• Urine protein:creatinine ratio ≤ 1.0
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment

• No significant cardiovascular illness, including any of the following:

  • Uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., blood pressure > 150/100 mm Hg)
  • Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
  • Unstable angina
  • Hemorrhagic or thrombotic stroke or other CNS bleeding within the past 6 months
  • Clinically significant peripheral vascular disease
  • Evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy
  • New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure
• No abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 6 months
• No significant traumatic injury within the past 28 days
• No serious, nonhealing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
• No hemoptysis > grade 2 within the past 28 days
• No hematemesis > grade 2 within the past 6 months OR grade 1 hematemesis within the past 28 days
• No inability to take dexamethasone, folic acid, or cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12)
• No other serious systemic disorder (including oncologic emergencies) incompatible with study treatment
• No other malignancy within the past 3 years except for adequately treated squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 1 week since prior minor surgical procedure, such as fine-needle aspiration or core biopsy
• At least 4 weeks since prior and no concurrent major surgery or open biopsy
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior and no concurrent participation in another experimental drug study other than a Genentech-sponsored bevacizumab cancer study
• No prior chemotherapy
• No concurrent stimulators of thrombopoiesis
• No concurrent full-dose anticoagulants
• No nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 2 days before, during, and 2 days after pemetrexed disodium administration (5 days before for NSAIDs [including cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors] with a long half-life [e.g., naproxen, piroxicam, diflunisal, nabumetone, rofecoxib, or celecoxib])