S0342: Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, and Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB or Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2011-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel and carboplatin, work in different
ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Monoclonal antibodies
such as cetuximab can locate tumor cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing
substances to them without harming normal cells. Combining more than one chemotherapy drug
with a monoclonal antibody may kill more tumor cells. It is not yet known whether cetuximab
is more effective when given at the same time as chemotherapy or following chemotherapy.
PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying how well giving cetuximab at the same
time as combination chemotherapy works compared to giving cetuximab after combination
chemotherapy in treating patients with stage IIIB or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.