S0342: Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, and Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB or Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of one of the following stages:
• * Newly diagnosed selected stage IIIB disease (T4 lesion due to malignant pleural effusion, any N, M0)
• * Newly diagnosed stage IV disease (any T, any N, M1)
• * Recurrent stage IV disease after prior surgery or radiotherapy
• The following subtypes are eligible:
• * Adenocarcinoma
• * Squamous cell carcinoma
• * Large cell carcinoma
• * Unspecified
• Measurable disease by CT scan, MRI, x-ray, or physical exam
• * Pleural effusions, ascites, or laboratory parameters are not acceptable as the only evidence of disease
• * Not within prior radiotherapy field unless a new lesion is present
• * Not within area of prior surgical resection
• No known brain metastases by CT scan or MRI
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• Zubrod 0-1
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 9 mg/dL
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT or SGPT ≤ 2 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2 times ULN
• No known acute hepatitis
• Renal
• Creatinine ≤ ULN
• Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min
• Cardiovascular
• No significant cardiac disease
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No unstable angina
• No congestive heart failure
• Other
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or adequately treated stage I or II cancer currently in complete remission
• No active or uncontrolled infection
• No sensory neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• No known human anti-mouse antibodies
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• No prior biologic therapy for NSCLC
• No prior chimeric or murine monoclonal antibody therapy
• No prior cetuximab
• Chemotherapy
• No prior systemic chemotherapy for NSCLC
• Endocrine therapy
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• Surgery
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 2 weeks since prior thoracic or major surgery and recovered
• Other
• No prior gefitinib or other investigational agents that target the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway