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

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