Mistletoe in Treating Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Who Are Receiving Palliative Chemotherapy
Lung Cancer
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Lung Cancer focused on measuring stage IV non-small cell lung cancer, stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer
Eligibility Criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer Newly diagnosed disease Planning to receive standard chemotherapy with either carboplatin plus paclitaxel or cisplatin plus gemcitabine Refused or ineligible to participate in experimental chemotherapy clinical trials PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Not specified Hepatic Not specified Renal Not specified Other Not pregnant No AIDS Able to self-report quality of life No known allergy to Viscum album Linnaeus PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy No other concurrent mistletoe products Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics Endocrine therapy No concurrent steroid or adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy Radiotherapy Not specified Surgery Not specified Other No concurrent participation in other clinical trials No concurrent mushroom glucan or proteoglycan extracts No concurrent thymus extract No concurrent non-oncologic immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., therapy for rheumatoid arthritis or after organ transplantation)
Sites / Locations
- Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University - Philadelphia