Cetuximab Plus Conformal Thoracic Radiotherapy in Patients (Pts) With Inoperable or Unresectable Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (LA - NSCLC)

Clinical Trial Summary

This research is being done to find out if a treatment consisting of a combination of thoracic radiotherapy with cetuximab, given together, and followed by chemotherapy with docetaxel and cetuximab (also given together) will kill the cancer cells in the patient's body and shrink the size of their tumor without causing unacceptable side effects. This may allow patients to live longer or decrease the frequency and/or severity of the symptoms caused by the cancer without increasing the frequency and/or severity of the symptoms caused by the treatment.

Patients will be asked to spend about six months in this study. There will be 4 different phases in this study as follows: (1) Loading Phase: This is the first week (week 1) of the study, when patients receive their first (loading) dose of cetuximab only, in the vein. (2) Concurrent Phase: During this phase patients will be treated simultaneously (concurrently) with radiation therapy to their chest and cetuximab. Radiation is delivered 5 days a week, Monday to Friday for a total of 7 weeks (weeks 2-8). Cetuximab is delivered in the vein, weekly, during the weeks of radiation. (3) Recovery Phase: Patients receive no treatment during these next 3 weeks (weeks 9-11). This phase is designed to allow patients to recover from side effects before they start the last phase. (4) Consolidation Phase: The last phase. Patients will receive 3 doses of chemotherapy with docetaxel during this phase. Docetaxel is given intravenously every 21 days. Patients also receive weekly cetuximab during this phase. Cetuximab is delivered in a similar way as it was during the concurrent (second) phase of this study. In total, this phase lasts 6 weeks (weeks 12-18). Once the therapy treatment is completed, and if the patient's cancer did not get worse, follow up visits will include visits to their physician every three months for 2 years, then every 4 months for 2 years or more, as long as their cancer doesn't get worse (at which time they will be removed from the study). ;

Study Design

Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
• Lung Cancer
• Lung Neoplasms