OBJECTIVES:

• Determine whether the presence of occult micrometastases (OM) detected by immunohistochemistry or reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in histologically negative lymph nodes or bone marrow is associated with poorer survival among patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer.
• Determine the incidence of OM in histologically negative lymph nodes and bone marrow by immunohistochemistry (staining for cytokeratins and the CEA glycoprotein) or RT-PCR (to detect CEA mRNA) in these patients.
• Assess the sensitivity of immunohistochemistry relative to RT-PCR for detecting OM in these patients.
• Determine the relationship between tumor size (or T-stage) and the presence of OM detected by immunohistochemistry or RT-PCR in these patients.
• Determine the relationship between the presence of OM and disease-free survival in these patients.
• Determine the relationship between the site of OM and incidence of recurrence, site of recurrence, and survival of these patients.

OUTLINE: At the time of thoracotomy and pulmonary resection, patients have samples of bone marrow, primary tumor, and intrathoracic lymph nodes harvested. The presence of occult metastases in bone marrow and lymph nodes is assessed using immunohistochemistry or reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.

Patients are followed every 6 months for 5 years.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 500 patients will be accrued for this study within 3-3.5 years.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Suspected or histologically confirmed previously untreated non-small cell lung cancer

  • Clinical stage I disease

    • T1 or T2 primary
    • N1 or N2 lymph nodes less than 1 cm on CT scan or negative mediastinoscopy

• Planned thoracotomy for lobectomy or pneumonectomy

  • Video-assisted lobectomy is acceptable if no preliminary wedge resection of tumor is performed
• No history of prior lung cancer

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Not specified

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Not specified

Hepatic:

• Not specified

Renal:

• Not specified

Other:

• No other prior or concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except inactive non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• At least 5 years since prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• At least 5 years since prior radiotherapy
• No prior mediastinal or chest radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics