Lisinopril in Reducing Shortness of Breath Caused by Radiation Therapy in Patients With Lung Cancer

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To explore the adverse event profile of lisinopril, during and after external beam radiation therapy (RT) to the lung. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To explore the level of patient-reported acute respiratory distress (dyspnea) during and after external beam RT. II. To explore the level of patient-reported symptoms during and after external beam RT. III. To explore the impact of lisinopril treatment on patient quality of life (QOL) during and after external beam RT. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. ARM I: Beginning within 7 days of beginning radiation therapy, patients receive lisinopril orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-7. ARM II: Beginning within 7 days of beginning radiation therapy, patients receive placebo PO QD on days 1-7. In both arms, treatment repeats every 7 days for until 3 months after completion of radiation therapy in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.