Celecoxib in Preventing Lung Cancer in Former Heavy Smokers

OBJECTIVES: * Determine the feasibility of chemoprevention of lung cancer with celecoxib in former heavy smokers at risk for developing primary or second primary lung cancer. * Determine the safety and side effects of this drug in these patients. * Determine the quality of life of patients treated with this drug. * Determine the role of COX-2-specific inhibitors (e.g., celecoxib) on antitumor immunity within the lung microenvironment of these patients. * Determine the effects of COX-2 inhibition on angiogenesis in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients are stratified according to presence of preinvasive lesions (yes vs no). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I: Patients receive oral placebo twice daily for 6 months. * Arm II: Patients receive oral celecoxib twice daily for 6 months. Treatment in both arms continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Quality of life is assessed every 6 months during treatment and then annually for up to 4 years. Patients are followed annually for up to 4 years. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 180 patients (90 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study.