OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of docetaxel and gemcitabine. Patients receive gemcitabine IV over 30 minutes, docetaxel IV over 1 hour, and carboplatin IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Patients also receive gemcitabine IV over 30 minutes on day 8. Treatment repeats every 21 days for approximately 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of gemcitabine and docetaxel until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). If the DLT is grade 4 neutropenia, filgrastim (G-CSF) is added to the regimen (administered subcutaneously on days 2-7 and 8-14 or until blood counts recover). A new MTD is then determined. Patients are followed every 3 months.