Erlotinib in Treating Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed bronchoalveolar cell (or a variant) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) * Stage IIIB (malignant pleural or pericardial effusion) disease * Stage IV disease * Recurrent and/or medically inoperable disease * Measurable or evaluable indicator lesions * No uncontrolled CNS metastases (i.e., any known CNS lesion that is radiographically unstable, symptomatic, and/or requiring escalating doses of corticosteroids) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status (PS) 0-1 OR Karnofsky PS 80-100% * Life expectancy ≥ 8 weeks * WBC ≥ 3,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Bilirubin ≤ 1.0 mg/dL * AST ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance ≥ 55 mL/min * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No significant medical history or unstable medical condition, including any of the following: * Unstable systemic disease * Congestive heart failure * Recent myocardial infarction * Unstable angina * Active infection * Uncontrolled hypertension * No other active malignancies within the past 5 years except for adequately treated carcinoma of the cervix or basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior radiation therapy to a major bone marrow-containing area * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for NSCLC * No prior systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy for other malignant diseases * No prior erlotinib hydrochloride or other agents targeting the HER family (e.g., cetuximab, trastuzumab \[Herceptin®\], or gefitinib) * No concurrent radiotherapy or chemotherapy