DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

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

  • Newly diagnosed selected stage IIIB disease

    • T4 lesion due to malignant pleural effusion
    • Any N
    • M0

  • Newly diagnosed stage IV disease

    • Any T
    • Any N
    • M1 (i.e., distant metastases present)
  • Recurrent disease after prior surgery and/or radiotherapy (considered stage IV disease)

• Any 1 of the following cellular types:

  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Large cell carcinoma
  • Unspecified
• No tumor with > 50% squamous cell components

• Measurable or nonmeasurable disease as measured by CT scan, MRI, x-ray, or physical exam

  • Disease must be outside the previous radiation field, area of surgical resection, or a new lesion must be present
  • Pleural effusions, ascites, or laboratory parameters are not acceptable as the only evidence of disease
• No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Zubrod performance status 0-1
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 9 mg/dL
• Creatinine normal
• Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min
• Urine protein:creatinine ratio ≤ 0.5 OR urine protein < 1,000 mg by 24-hour urine collection
• SGOT or SGPT ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin ≤ 2 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2 times ULN
• INR ≤ 1.5
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 6 months after completion of study treatment
• No symptomatic neuropathy (sensory) ≥ grade 2
• No documented evidence of acute hepatitis
• No active or uncontrolled infection

• No history of any of the following:

  • Cerebral vascular accident within the past 6 months
  • Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
  • Unstable angina within the past 6 months
  • Uncontrolled hypertension
  • New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure
  • Serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication
  • Clinically significant peripheral vascular disease
• No serious or nonhealing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
• No abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 28 days
• No hemoptysis ≥ ½ teaspoon within the past 3 months
• No known hypersensitivity to Chinese hamster ovary cell products or other recombinant human antibodies
• No significant traumatic injury within the past 28 days
• No evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy

• No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except for the following:

  • Adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
  • In situ cervical cancer
  • Adequately treated stage I or II cancer for which the patient is currently in complete remission
• No documented presence of human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior therapy
• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior surgery (e.g., thoracic or other major surgery) and no anticipated need for surgery during study treatment
• At least 28 days since prior open biopsy
• At least 7 days since prior core biopsy
• No prior systemic chemotherapy or biologic therapy for NSCLC
• No prior adjuvant therapy for NSCLC
• No prior cetuximab, gefitinib, erlotinib, or other investigational agents that target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway
• No prior vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-related agents
• No prior chimerized or murine monoclonal antibody therapy

• No concurrent full-dose anticoagulation therapy

  • Concurrent low-dose (1 mg daily) warfarin allowed