Pemetrexed Disodium and Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB or Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2010-05-12
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
RATIONALE: Pemetrexed disodium may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the
enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as gemcitabine, work in
different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping
them from dividing. Giving pemetrexed disodium together with gemcitabine may kill more tumor
cells.
PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying two different schedules of pemetrexed
disodium and gemcitabine to compare how well they work in treating patients with stage IIIB
or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.