DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), meeting 1 of the following stage criteria:

  • Stage IIIB with pleural effusion
  • Stage IV
  • Previously resected stage I-III disease that has relapsed in the non-resected metastatic site

• Measurable disease

  • At least 1 lesion ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan OR ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques
• Considered suitable for first-line treatment with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and ZD6474
• No mixed small cell and non-small cell histology

• No brain metastasis or spinal cord compression unless both of the following are true:

  • Treated at least 4 weeks ago
  • Stable without steroids for 1 week

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• WHO 0-1

Life expectancy

• More than 12 weeks

Hematopoietic

• Neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST or ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN (5.0 times ULN if liver metastases are present)
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min
• Calcium (ionized or adjusted for albumin) normal* NOTE: *Supplementation allowed

Cardiovascular

• LVEF ≥ 45% by MUGA or echocardiogram*
• No significant cardiac event, including symptomatic heart failure or symptomatic angina within the past 3 months
• No congenital long QT syndrome
• No QT with Bazett's correction unmeasurable or ≥ 460 msec by ECG
• No superior vena cava syndrome
• No cardiac disease that would increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmia
• No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., systolic blood pressure (BP) > 160 mm Hg OR diastolic BP > 100 mm Hg)
• No history of QT interval prolongation while taking other medication unless approved by the investigator
• No history of chronic atrial fibrillation
• No clinically significant symptomatic arrhythmia (e.g., multifocal pre-ventricular contractions, bigeminy, trigeminy, or ventricular tachycardia) requiring treatment
• No symptomatic sustained ventricular tachycardia NOTE: *For patients with prior anthracycline therapy (total dose > 450 mg/m2), significant cardiovascular disease, or chest irradiation

Pulmonary

• No clinically significant hemoptysis within the past 3 months

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• Potassium ≥ 3.5 mEq/L*
• Magnesium normal*
• No active skin disease (e.g., acne, psoriasis, or eczema)
• No active gastrointestinal disease that would preclude absorption of ZD6474 or tolerating diarrhea
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell carcinoma or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No other condition that would preclude study participation or compliance NOTE: *Supplementation allowed

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No prior biologic therapy
• No concurrent biologic response modifiers, including cytokines

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy

• No prior radiotherapy

  • Prior radiotherapy to the brain or palliative radiotherapy for bone metastasis allowed
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics

Other

• No prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy
• More than 30 days since prior participation in an investigational trial

• More than 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent administration of the following:

  • Potent inhibitors of CYP3A4, including any of the following:

    • Ketoconazole
    • Itraconazole
    • Felbamate
    • Fluoxetine
    • Fluvoxamine
    • Lansoprazole
    • Amiodarone
    • Azithromycin
    • Ciprofloxacin
    • Clarithromycin
    • Cimetidine
    • Diltiazem
    • Erythromycin
    • Fluconazole
    • Nefazodone
    • Dolasetron
    • Ritonavir
    • Verapamil
    • Grapefruit juice
    • Seville oranges

  • Potent inducers of CYP3A4, including any of the following:

    • Rifampin
    • Phenytoin
    • Carbamazepine
    • Barbiturates
    • Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)

  • Therapeutic doses of warfarin for an INR ≥ 2

    • Concurrent low-dose warfarin for catheter clot prophylaxis allowed
  • Medications that prolong QTc interval or induce Torsades de Pointes
  • Medications that cause sustained elevations in gastric pH (pH ≥ 5)
• No blood donation during and for 3 months after study participation
• No other concurrent cytotoxic agents
• No other concurrent cancer therapy or investigational agents