Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Small Cell Lung Cancer
Lung Cancer
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Lung Cancer focused on measuring recurrent small cell lung cancer
Eligibility Criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed recurrent or refractory small cell lung cancer Measurable disease At least 20 mm with conventional techniques OR At least 10 mm with spiral CT scan The following are not considered measurable: Bone lesions Leptomeningeal disease Ascites Pleural/pericardial effusion Abdominal masses not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques Cystic lesions Tumor lesions situated in a previously irradiated area Known CNS metastases allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: CTC 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No prior or concurrent malignancy in past 5 years except curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, breast, or basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No more than 1 prior chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy regimen No prior gemcitabine or irinotecan Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No more than 1 prior chemoradiotherapy regimen At least 2 weeks since prior cranial radiotherapy for CNS metastases No concurrent cranial radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified
Sites / Locations
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Birmingham
- University of California San Diego Cancer Center
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center - San Francisco
- UCSF Cancer Center and Cancer Research Institute
- CCOP - Christiana Care Health Services
- Lombardi Cancer Center
- Walter Reed Army Medical Center
- CCOP - Mount Sinai Medical Center
- University of Illinois at Chicago Health Sciences Center
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Chicago (Westside Hospital)
- University of Chicago Cancer Research Center
- Hematology Oncology Associates of the Quad Cities
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at The University of Iowa
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Togus
- Marlene & Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Minneapolis
- University of Minnesota Cancer Center
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Columbia (Truman Memorial)
- Ellis Fischel Cancer Center - Columbia
- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- University of Nebraska Medical Center
- CCOP - Southern Nevada Cancer Research Foundation
- Norris Cotton Cancer Center
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Buffalo
- Roswell Park Cancer Institute
- CCOP - North Shore University Hospital
- North Shore University Hospital
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
- New York Presbyterian Hospital - Cornell Campus
- Mount Sinai Medical Center, NY
- State University of New York - Upstate Medical University
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Syracuse
- CCOP - Syracuse Hematology-Oncology Associates of Central New York, P.C.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Durham
- Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center
- CCOP - Southeast Cancer Control Consortium
- Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest University
- Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital - Ohio State University
- Rhode Island Hospital
- Medical University of South Carolina
- University of Tennessee, Memphis Cancer Center
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Memphis
- CCOP - Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center
- Vermont Cancer Center
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center - White River Junction
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Richmond
- MBCCOP - Massey Cancer Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Experimental
gemcitabine + irinotecan
Patients are stratified according to prior response duration (progression 90 days or more after initial therapy vs progression less than 90 days after initial therapy or no response to initial therapy). Patients receive gemcitabine IV over 30 minutes and irinotecan IV over 90 minutes on days 1 and 8. Treatment continues every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients are followed every 3 months for 1 year, then every 6 months for 2 years, and then annually for 3 years.