Two definitive phase 3 studies involving early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were activated in June 2007. The results of these two phase 3 trials may have profound impacts on the management and quality of life of patients with early stage lung cancer.
Adjuvant Treatment for Resected Lung Cancer
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/ECOG-E1505
ECOG is leading a trial, E1505, for patients with early stage NSCLC to test if the addition of bevacizumab (angiogenesis inhibition) to standard chemotherapy will improve survival in patients undergoing surgery with curative intent. This study is based on the results of another CTEP-sponsored phase 3 study in patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC (E4599) that showed that adding bevacizumab to standard chemotherapy for patients with NSCLC provides a statistically and clinically significant survival advantage with tolerable toxicity.
Comparing Surgical Treatment for Small NSCLC Tumors
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/CALGB-140503
The CALGB is conducting a phase 3 study, CALGB-140503, which will compare two types of surgical resection (standard lobectomy versus sublobar resection) for small (≤ 2 cm) peripheral tumors.