Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer

- Advanced disease (stage IIIB or IV)

- Diagnosis within 62 days prior to randomization

- Not suitable for first-line chemotherapy, as defined by the following criteria*:

- ECOG performance status 2-3

- ECOG performance status 0-1 AND creatinine clearance < 60 mL/min

- NOTE: *These criteria do not imply that all such patients are unsuitable for
chemotherapy; patients are considered unsuitable on a case by case basis

- No symptomatic brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Estimated life expectancy of at least 8 weeks

- Able to take oral medication

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No severe uncontrolled infection

- No unstable angina

- No myocardial infarction within the past month

- No uncontrolled inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative
colitis)

- No acute renal failure

- Bilirubin < 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Transaminases < 2 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases are present)

- Creatinine < 5 times ULN

- No evidence of other significant laboratory finding or uncontrolled medical illness
that would interfere with study treatment or results comparison or render the patient
at high risk from treatment complications

- No other prior or current malignant disease likely to interfere with study treatment
or comparisons

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- No prior chemotherapy

- No prior biological anticancer therapy (e.g., gefitinib, thalidomide, or cetuximab)

- No prior palliative radiotherapy

- Prior palliative radiotherapy to bone metastases allowed within the past 2 weeks

- No concurrent cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors