Active clinical trials for "Small Cell Lung Carcinoma"

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin and etoposide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Colony-stimulating factors, such as G-CSF or pegfilgrastim, may increase the number of immune cells found in bone marrow or peripheral blood and may help the immune system recover from the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying G-CSF and pegfilgrastim to see how well they work in treating neutropenia in patients undergoing combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy for limited stage small cell lung cancer.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of twelve weeks of a physical and psycho-social program consisting of: supervised, structured exercise training in a group of advanced lung cancer patients (cardio and strength training, relaxation training) twice weekly. Primary outcome is (VO2peak). The hypotheses are that patients who undergo this intervention will increase maximal oxygen uptake (VO2peak), strength (1RM), functional capacity (6MWD) and quality of life (HRQOL) and reduce the level of anxiety and depression compared to those who do not.

This trial studies the effect of a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy, Take a Breath, on reducing the intensity and frequency of dyspnea (difficulty breathing) in patients with lung cancer. Take a Breath consists of individual therapy sessions that educate patients on dyspnea and provides coping strategies.

The study intervention consists of the early integration of palliative care services into standard oncology care in an outpatient setting for patients with advanced lung and non-colorectal gastrointestinal malignancies who are not being treated with curative intent. The palliative care services provided to patients randomized to the intervention will be provided by board-certified physicians and/or advanced practice nurses and will focus on the following areas: (1) developing and maintaining the therapeutic relationship with the patients and family caregivers; (2) assessing and treating patient symptoms; (3) providing support and reinforcement of coping with advanced cancer in patients and family caregivers; (4) assessing and enhancing prognostic awareness and illness understanding in patients and family caregivers; (5) assisting with treatment decision-making; and (6) end-of-life care planning.

This randomized pilot clinical trial studies exercise intervention in improving quality of life and exercise capacity and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with lung cancer and their support persons. Exercise therapy may help improve quality of life, may increase exercise capacity, and may reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with lung cancer and their supporters.

This phase I/II trial studies the effects and safety of giving lithium carbonate (lithium) to patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) undergoing radiation therapy to the brain (PCI; prophylactic cranial irradiation). PCI is used to prevent cancer metastases from returning in the brain. This treatment can cause short-term memory problems by damaging the hippocampus. Lithium may help prevent or lessen memory problems caused by PCI by protecting the hippocampus.

This pilot clinical trial studies lisinopril in reducing shortness of breath caused by radiation therapy in patients with lung cancer. Lisinopril may decrease the side effects caused by radiation therapy in patients with lung cancer.

This trial studies how well physical therapy and progressive muscle relaxation works in improving physical performance and mood in older patients with stage IIIA-B or IV lung cancer who are undergoing treatment. Improving physical performance and mood may help older patients maintain an independent lifestyle by helping to improve their resilience, the ability to bounce back to normal functioning after a stressor or intervening health event such as treatment or disease progression. Giving physical therapy and progressive muscle relaxation may work in improving symptoms and quality of life in patients with lung cancer.

RATIONALE: Donepezil and vitamin E may be able to decrease side effects caused by radiation therapy given to prevent brain metastases in patients with small cell lung cancer. It is not yet known if donepezil and vitamin E are effective in preventing side effects caused by radiation therapy to the head. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to determine the effectiveness of donepezil and vitamin E in preventing side effects caused by radiation therapy given to prevent brain metastases in patients who have small cell lung cancer.

Most patients with extensive stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) who undergo chemotherapy, and prophylactic cranial irradiation, have persistent intrathoracic disease. A Dutch study recently proved that thoracic radiotherapy(TRT), using 30 Gy in 10 fractions of 3 Gy, could improve 2-year overall survival(OS) of this patient group compared with non-TRT group. But intrathoracic progression was still high, either with or without progression elsewhere, occurring in 43.7% in the TRT group. The ideal TRT regimen for ES-SCLC is undefined. Maybe higher dose can provide better local control(LC) and overall survival. In this study, the investigators propose to give an increased dose of TRT to determine whether higher dose will improve 2-year OS, LC and progression-free survival.