Erlotinib and Standard Platinum-Based Chemotherapy for Newly Diagnosed, Advanced Non-Small Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

Inclusion Criteria: * Prior chemotherapy will be allowed for other invasive malignancies, provided at least five years has elapsed since the completion of therapy and enrollment on this protocol. No prior chemotherapy for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) will be allowed. Prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy for NSCLC will be allowed, provided at least six months have elapsed from the last dose of chemotherapy to the documentation of relapsed disease. Baseline laboratory values (bone marrow, renal, hepatic): * Adequate bone marrow function: * Absolute neutrophil count \>1000/µL * Platelet count \>100'000/µL * Renal function: * Serum creatinine \< 2.0 mg % * Hepatic function: * Bilirubin \<1.5x normal * Serum calcium \< 12 mg/dl Other Eligibility Criteria: * Signed Informed Consent * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)/Zubrod/Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) Performance Status \<2 (Karnofsky Performance Status \> 70%) * Life expectancy \> 8 weeks * Male or female' age \>18 years * Patients of childbearing potential must be using an effective means of contraception. * Histologic diagnosis of NSCLC that is advanced and cannot be treated adequately by radiotherapy or surgery; or metastatic disease Exclusion Criteria: * Prior therapy with an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor, including erlotinib, gefitinib, and cetuximab, as well as any investigational HER-1 inhibiting agent * Pregnant or lactating females * Myocardial infarction or ischemia within the 6 months before Cycle 0' Day 0 * Uncontrolled' clinically significant dysrhythmia * History of prior malignancy within the prior five years, with the exception of non-melanoma carcinomas of the skin, and carcinoma in situ of the cervix * Prior radiotherapy to an indicator lesion unless there is objective evidence of tumor growth in that lesion * Uncontrolled metastatic disease of the central nervous system (previously treated, stable disease is allowable on this protocol) * Radiotherapy within the 2 weeks before Cycle 1' Day 1 * Surgery within the 2 weeks before Cycle 1' Day 1 * Any co morbid condition that' in the view of the attending physician' renders the patient at high risk from treatment complications