Tipifarnib Plus Radiation Therapy After Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 1969-12-31
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

RATIONALE: Tipifarnib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by making tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as carboplatin and paclitaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing and may also make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of tipifarnib when given together with radiation therapy after combination chemotherapy in treating patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

• Phase: Phase 1
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania; University of Pennsylvania
• Collaborator: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Treatments: Carboplatin; Paclitaxel; Tipifarnib

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer

• Locally advanced (stage IIIA or IIIB) disease requiring radiotherapy

• No malignant pleural effusion

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 3,500/mm^3

• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

• No grade 2 or greater elevation of liver function tests

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times normal

Pulmonary:

• FEV_1 at least 600 cc

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing

• Negative pregnancy test

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

• HIV negative

• No grade 3 or 4 peripheral neuropathy

• No known allergy to imidazole drugs (e.g., ketoconazole, miconazole, econazole, or terconazole)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• Up to 2 prior or concurrent carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy regimens allowed

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics

• No prior thoracic radiotherapy

Surgery:

• At least 3 weeks since prior exploratory thoracotomy