Oxaliplatin, Docetaxel, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Unresectable Stage II/III or Recurrent NSCLC

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Determine the maximum tolerated dose of oxaliplatin when given with docetaxel and thoracic radiotherapy in patients with unresectable stage II, IIIA, or IIIB or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer. Secondary * Determine the dose-limiting toxicities of this regimen in these patients. * Determine the objective tumor response in patients treated with this regimen. OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of oxaliplatin. * Induction therapy: Patients undergo radiotherapy once a day on days 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, 22-26, 29-33, 36-40, and 43-47. Patients also receive docetaxel intravenous (IV) over 1 hour on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, and 43 and oxaliplatin IV over 2-4 hours on days 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 37, and 44. Patients with stable or responding disease proceed to consolidation therapy. Cohorts of 6 patients receive escalating doses of oxaliplatin during induction therapy until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 3 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. * Consolidation therapy: Beginning 3 weeks after the completion of induction therapy, patients receive consolidation therapy comprising docetaxel IV over 1 hour immediately followed by oxaliplatin IV over 2-4 hours on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 2 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed at 4 weeks and then every 3 months for up to 2 years.