DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

  • Squamous cell histology allowed
  • No mixed histology with small cell component

• Stage IIIB (with pleural effusion) or stage IV disease

  • Presence of peritoneal or pericardial effusion alone in the absence of cytologic evidence is not allowed

• Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 lesion with longest diameter ≥ 2.0 cm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 1.0 cm by spiral CT scan

  • If the only site of measurable disease was previously irradiated, progressive disease must be evident
• Ineligible for bevacizumab therapy

• No symptomatic, untreated, or uncontrolled CNS metastases

  • CNS metastases treated with whole-brain radiation (WBRT) allowed 4 weeks after completion of WBRT

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-1
• Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• Bilirubin ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• ALT and AST ≤ 3 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver involvement)
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 5 times ULN
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective nonhormonal contraception
• No proteinuria ≥ 1+
• No uncontrolled blood pressure (BP), defined as systolic BP > 150 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP > 100 mm Hg in spite of adequate antihypertensive therapy
• No impairment of gastrointestinal function or gastrointestinal disease that may significantly alter the absorption of AZD2171 (e.g., ulcerative disease, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, or small bowel resection)
• No seizure disorder
• No significant traumatic injury within 4 weeks prior to study entry

• No second primary malignancy except any of the following:

  • Carcinoma in situ of the cervix
  • Nonmelanoma skin cancer
  • Prior malignancy diagnosed and definitively treated ≥ 5 years ago with no subsequent evidence of recurrence
  • History of low-grade (Gleason score ≤ 6) localized prostate cancer even if diagnosed < 5 years prior to registration
  • Treated stage I breast cancer ≤ 5 years prior to registration

• No uncontrolled intercurrent illness, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

  • Ongoing or active infection
  • Significant pulmonary symptoms at baseline due to disease
  • Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  • Unstable angina pectoris
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements
  • Baseline hemoptysis
  • Cavitating lesions
• No QTc prolongation > 500 msec or other significant ECG abnormality within the past 14 days
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV disease

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics

• No prior chemotherapy for advanced lung cancer

  • Neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy for lung cancer within the past 12 months allowed
• More than 12 months since prior immunotherapy and biologic therapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (2 weeks for palliative radiotherapy to skeletal metastases)
• At least 2 weeks since prior WBRT
• No radiotherapy to ≥ 25% of bone marrow

• No major surgery (i.e., laparotomy) or open biopsy within 4 weeks prior to study entry (2 weeks for minor surgery)

  • Insertion of a vascular access device not considered major or minor surgery
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No concurrent grapefruit or grapefruit juice during AZD2171 treatment
• No concurrent drugs or biologics with proarrhythmic potential
• Concurrent palliative radiotherapy to nontarget sites (i.e., painful pre-existing bony metastasis) allowed with AZD2171 (chemotherapy is held until completion of radiotherapy)