RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as docetaxel and cisplatin, use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Giving chemotherapy with radiation therapy before surgery may make the tumor smaller and reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed. It is not yet known if chemotherapy plus radiation therapy is more effective than chemotherapy alone before surgery in treating non-small cell lung cancer.
PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying docetaxel and cisplatin with or without radiation therapy to see how well they work when given before surgery in treating patients with stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to lymph nodes in the chest.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 75 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
* Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer
* Squamous, adenosquamous, large cell, or poorly differentiated
* Stage IIIA (T1-3, N2, M0)
* N2 disease confirmed by 1 of the following:
* Mediastinoscopy
* Bronchoscopy with fine-needle aspiration or esophagoscopy
* All N3 lymph nodes must be negative by positron-emission tomography (PET) AND CT scan (\< 1 cm in the largest diameter)
* PET scan
* Both the primary tumor and at least 1 N2 lymph node must be positive in PET scan
* At least 1 of the PET scan positive N2 lymph nodes is positive in the CT scan (\> 1 cm in the largest diameter)
* All N3 lymph nodes negative in PET scan
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
Age:
* 18 to 75
Performance status:
* WHO 0-1
Life expectancy:
* Not specified
Hematopoietic:
* WBC at least 4,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
Hepatic:
* Bilirubin normal
* AST/ALT no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN
Renal:
* Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min
Cardiovascular:
* Cardiac function normal
* No unstable cardiac disease requiring treatment
* No congestive heart failure
* No angina pectoris even if medically controlled
* No significant arrhythmia
* No myocardial infarction in the past 3 months
Pulmonary:
* Lung function appropriate
Neurologic:
* No history of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorders
* No…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.