Erlotinib in Treating Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma of the Lung

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed malignant pleural mesothelioma * Epithelial * Sarcomatous * Biphasic * Measurable or nonmeasurable disease * Not amenable to extrapleural pneumonectomy * No known CNS metastases * Performance status - Zubrod 0-1 * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * SGOT or SGPT no greater than 1.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver involvement of tumor) * Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN * No gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication or a requirement for IV alimentation * No active peptic ulcer disease * No intractable nausea or vomiting * Must be able to swallow and/or receive enteral medications via gastrostomy feeding tube * No known history of the following: * Dry eye syndrome * Sjogren's syndrome * Keratoconjunctivitis sicca * Exposure keratopathy * Fuch's dystrophy * Other active disorders of the cornea * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No HIV-positive patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy * No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or stage I or II cancer that is in complete remission * No prior biologic therapy for this tumor * No prior chemotherapy for this tumor * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery (e.g., thoracotomy or laparotomy), excluding minor surgeries (e.g., mediastinoscopy, thoracoscopy, or minor biopsies) * Recovered from prior surgery * No prior surgical procedures affecting absorption * No prior investigational anticancer agents for this tumor