DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including any of the following cellular subtypes:

  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Large cell
  • Squamous cell
  • Mixture of the above cellular types

• Meets 1 of the following stage criteria:

  • Stage IIIB disease with a malignant pleural effusion or supraclavicular node involvement

    • Patients who are eligible for CALGB protocols of combined chemotherapy and thoracic radiotherapy are not eligible for this study
  • Stage IV disease
• ECOG performance status 2

• Measurable or nonmeasurable disease

  • Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan

  • The following are considered nonmeasurable disease:

    • Bone lesions
    • Ascites
    • Pleural or pericardial effusion
    • Lymphangitis cutis or pulmonis
    • Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
    • Cystic lesions

• No untreated CNS metastases

  • Patients with known CNS metastases who have received prior therapy (e.g., surgery, radiotherapy, or gamma knife radiosurgery) are eligible provided both of the following criteria are met:

    • Neurologically stable and off steroids
    • Not on enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants
• No leptomeningeal disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• See Disease Characteristics

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

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

Hepatic

• AST normal
• Bilirubin normal

Renal

• Creatinine normal

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for up to 5 weeks after completion of study treatment
• No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• No history of severe infusion reaction to a monoclonal antibody

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent hormonal therapy except megestrol for appetite stimulation

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior radiotherapy
• No concurrent palliative radiotherapy

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior surgery

Other

• At least 12 months since prior treatment for early-stage or locally advanced stage III NSCLC
• No prior systemic treatment for advanced NSCLC
• No prior treatment that specifically and directly targets the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway
• No other concurrent investigational therapy