Carboplatin Plus Cetuximab for Treatment of Stage IIIB/IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed for both genders in the United States. Approximately 173,770 new cases are estimated for 2004. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women, with approximately 160,440 deaths estimated for 2004. Prognosis for many is poor if not diagnosed at an early stage, and therapy for advanced disease is limited. The study will test carboplatin in combination with a newly approved drug called cetuximab, which is continuing to be tested in colorectal cancer and other cancers. Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody, which is believed to work by attaching to an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on tumor cells and thereby blocking tumor cells from reproducing. It is an antibody to the EGFR. Fifty percent of lung cancers overexpress EGFR. Rationale: The present study is built upon the data from the described studies, incorporating cetuximab into a regimen of single-agent carboplatin. Previous data suggest that single agent carboplatin is active in NSCLC. The addition of biologic therapy with the anti-EGFR agent cetuximab to carboplatin will presumably maximize the therapeutic index while keeping toxicity to a minimum in patients with Stage IIIB/IV NSCLC. Research Hypothesis: The population being studied in this trial is subjects with previously untreated Stage IIIB or IV NSCLC. The research hypothesis is that these subjects will achieve a response (based on RECIST criteria) to therapy with the combination of carboplatin and cetuximab.