Gefitinib After Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB or Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Compare overall survival of patients with stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer that did not progress on prior first-line palliative induction chemotherapy when treated with adjuvant gefitinib vs placebo. Secondary * Compare progression-free survival of patients treated with these regimens. * Determine the safety and toxicity of gefitinib in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to initial disease stage (IIIB vs IV), WHO performance status at the end of prior first-line palliative induction chemotherapy (0-1 vs 2), best patient response to prior first-line palliative induction chemotherapy (objective response vs stable disease), and participating center. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I: Patients receive oral gefitinib once daily. * Arm II: Patients receive oral placebo once daily. In both arms, treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months thereafter. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 598 patients (299 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study within 8.5 years.