Cisplatin, Vinorelbine, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

Overview

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin and vinorelbine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. It is not yet known whether giving combination chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy is more effective than giving combination chemotherapy together with radiation therapy followed by more chemotherapy in treating non-small cell lung cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying combination chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy to see how well it works compared to combination chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy followed by more chemotherapy in treating patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer that cannot be removed by surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Compare the overall survival of patients with stage III non-small cell cancer treated with chemotherapy comprising cisplatin and vinorelbine ditartrate (CV) followed by radical radiotherapy versus concurrent CV chemoradiotherapy followed by CV chemotherapy. Secondary * Compare the progression-free survival of patients treated with these regimens. * Compare the local progression-free survival (local control). * Compare the hematological, pulmonary, esophageal, and neurological toxicities. * Compare the response. * Compare the quality of life. * Compare the cost-effectiveness. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to clinically important factors. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I (sequential treatment): Patients receive cisplatin IV over 2 hours on day 1 and vinorelbine ditartrate IV over 5-10 minutes on days 1 and 8. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Beginning in week 15, patients undergo radiotherapy 5 days a week for 4 weeks. * Arm II (concurrent treatment): Patients undergo radiotherapy as in arm I beginning in week 1. Patients receive cisplatin IV over 2 hours on days 1-4 and vinorelbine ditartrate IV over 5-10 minutes on days 1 and 8. Chemotherapy repeats every 3 weeks for up to 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Quality of life is assessed at baseline, monthly for 6 months, and then at each follow-up visit. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed periodically. Peer Reviewed and Funded or Endorsed by Cancer Research UK PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 508 patients will be accrued for this study.