OBJECTIVES: I. Assess whether the addition of cisplatin-based chemotherapy to standard treatment improves survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. Arm I: Patients undergo primary surgery, radical radiotherapy, radiotherapy with surgery, or best supportive care. Arm II: Patients undergo treatment as in arm I. Beginning within 10 weeks after surgery or radical radiotherapy or as soon as possible after diagnosis, patients receive 1 of the following regimens: Regimen A: Patients receive cisplatin IV on day 1 followed by vindesine on days 1 and 8. Regimen B: Patients receive mitomycin, ifosfamide, and cisplatin on day 1. Regimen C: Patients receive mitomycin, vinblastine, and cisplatin on day 1. Regimen D: Patients receive vinorelbine on days 1 and 8 and cisplatin on day 1. Treatment in all 4 regimens repeats every 3 weeks for 3 courses. Patients are followed at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and then annually thereafter.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 1,800 patients will be accrued for this study within 3 years.