S0709: Erlotinib With or Without Carboplatin and Paclitaxel in Stage IIIB or Stage IV 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 carboplatin and paclitaxel, 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 carboplatin and paclitaxel may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying how well erlotinib works when given alone or together with carboplatin and paclitaxel in treating patients with stage IIIB or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.