Pemetrexed Disodium With or Without Erlotinib Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB-IV or Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

This randomized phase II trial studies how well pemetrexed disodium with or without erlotinib hydrochloride works in treating patients with stage IIIB-IV or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as pemetrexed disodium, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Erlotinib hydrochloride may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. It is not yet known whether pemetrexed disodium is more effective with or without erlotinib hydrochloride in treating non-small cell lung cancer.