Gemcitabine Hydrochloride and Carboplatin With or Without MK-0646 as First-Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB or Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as gemcitabine hydrochloride and carboplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as MK-0646, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. It is not yet known whether gemcitabine hydrochloride and carboplatin are more effective when given together with or without MK-0646 in treating patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying how well gemcitabine hydrochloride and carboplatin work when given together with or without MK-0646 as first-line therapy in treating patients with stage IIIB or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.