Erlotinib, Paclitaxel, and Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Stage III, Stage IV, or Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

RATIONALE: Erlotinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel and carboplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving erlotinib together with paclitaxel and carboplatin may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying two different doses of erlotinib when given together with paclitaxel and carboplatin to compare how well they work in treating patients with stage III, stage IV, or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer.