Combination Chemotherapy Plus Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB or Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IIIB (malignant pleural effusion) or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer
• •* Squamous cell carcinoma
• •* Basaloid carcinoma
• •* Adenocarcinoma
• •* Bronchoalveolar carcinoma
• •* Adenosquamous carcinoma
• •* Large cell carcinoma
• •* Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma
• •* Giant cell carcinoma
• •* Sarcomatoid carcinoma
• •* Non-small cell carcinoma not otherwise specified
• •Measurable disease
• •* At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion
• •* At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR
• •* At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• •* The following lesions are considered nonmeasurable:
• •* Bone lesions
• •* Leptomeningeal disease
• •* Ascites
• •* Pleural or pericardial effusions
• •* Abdominal masses unconfirmed by imaging techniques
• •* Cystic lesions
• •* Previously irradiated brain metastases
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age:
• •18 and over
• •Performance status:
• •ECOG 0-1
• •Life expectancy:
• •Not specified
• •Hematopoietic:
• •Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3
• •Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
• •Hepatic:
• •Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• •Renal:
• •Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• •Other:
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •Fertile patients must use 2 methods of effective contraception 4 weeks prior to, during, and for at least 4 weeks after thalidomide
• •No prior seizures
• •No other concurrent or prior malignancy within the past 5 years except inactive nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• •No other serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •Biologic therapy:
• •Not specified
• •Chemotherapy:
• •No prior chemotherapy
• •No other concurrent chemotherapy
• •Endocrine therapy:
• •No concurrent hormonal therapy except steroids for adrenal failure, hormones for non-cancer-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes) or intermittent dexamethasone as an antiemetic
• •Radiotherapy:
• •Prior radiotherapy for brain metastasis allowed if neurologically stable and off steroids
• •No concurrent palliative radiotherapy
• •Surgery:
• •Not specified