OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients are stratified according to stage of disease (stage IIIB vs stage IV vs recurrent or progressive after surgery and/or radiotherapy), performance status (0-1 vs 2), and age (under 70 vs 70 and over). Patients are randomized to one of two treatment arms. Arm I receives paclitaxel IV over 3 hours on day 1 of each course. Arm II receives paclitaxel as in Arm I, followed by carboplatin IV over 1 hour. Treatment is repeated every 21 days for 6 courses in the absence of tumor progression or unacceptable toxicity. Quality of life assessments are conducted before treatment and at 2, 6, 9, and 12 months. Patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years, then every 6 months until disease progression or death.