Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage I or Stage II Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVES: Primary * To compare the incidence of toxicity with two established stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) regimens in patients with node-negative, peripheral stage I or II non-small cell lung cancer. Secondary * To compare quality of life, patterns of failure, disease-free survival, and overall survival of these patients after treatment with one of two established SBRT regimens. * To correlate outcomes and toxicities with imaging and patient and tumor biomarkers. OUTLINE: Patients are stratified according to Karnofsky performance status and treatment center. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I: Patients undergo 1 high-dose fraction of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). * Arm II: Patients undergo 3 high-dose fractions (approximately 1 week apart) of SBRT. Quality of life is assessed periodically by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and -LC13 questionnaires Blood and tissue samples may be collected periodically and examined for biomarkers via ELISA and immunoblotting. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed for 5 years.