• Determine maximum tolerated dose of bortezomib when administered in combination with carboplatin & docetaxel for treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC cancer. Determine the response rate of the combination for patients with advanced NSCLC. [ Time Frame: End of study ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

• Define dose-limiting toxicities of the combination of carboplatin, docetaxel & bortezomib for patients with advanced NSCLC. Determine the time to progression & overall survival, assess toxicities, determine changes in serum proteomics patterns [ Time Frame: End of study ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  

A chemotherapy efficacy plateau' has been reached for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Platinum-based two-drug combination is considered the current standard of care for the treatment of advanced NSCLC. There is a need to develop novel regimens to improve the outcome for patients with advanced NSCLC. The combination of carboplatin and docetaxel is effective for therapy of advanced NSCLC. This combination results in improved survival and quality of life for patients with advanced NSCLC. Docetaxel exhibits preclinical synergy with bortezomib. Hence we plan to perform a phase I/II study to define the maximum tolerated dose of bortezomib that can be administered in combination with docetaxel and carboplatin and subsequently evaluate the efficacy of the regimen for patients with advanced NSCLC.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically/cytologically confirmed stage IIIB (pleural or pericardial effusion) or stage IV NSCLC
• Age > 18 years
• ECOG PS < 2
• No prior chemotherapy
• Measurable disease
• Signed informed consent
• Adequate bone marrow function
• Adequate renal function
• Adequate hepatic function

Exclusion Criteria:

• Untreated clinically active brain metastasis
• Radiotherapy within 2 weeks prior to initiation of protocol therapy
• Treatment with any investigational therapy within 4 weeks prior to enrollment
• History of any cancer other than NSCLC (except non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma on situ of the cervix) within the last 5 years
• Patients in their reproductive age group should use an effective method of birth control. Men and women of childbearing potential must be willing to consent to using effective contraception while on treatment and for at least 3 months thereafter. Patients who are breast-feeding will be excluded from the study. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test.
• Major surgery within 3 weeks prior to enrollment
• Use of immunosuppressive agents including systemic corticosteroids within 4 weeks prior to enrollment (corticosteroids are permitted as physiological replacement therapy or as supportive care for nausea and emesis)
• Known history of Human immunodeficiency virus infection
• Any co-morbidity or condition of sufficient severity to limit full compliance with the protocol per assessment by the investigator
• Concurrent serious medical infection or illness, or psychiatric illness likely to interfere with participation in this clinical study.
• History of known hypersensitivity to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80, bortezomib, boron or mannitol
• Patient has Grade 2 peripheral neuropathy within 14 days before enrollment.
• Myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to enrollment or has New York Hospital Association (NYHA) Class III or IV heart failure (see section 8.4), uncontrolled angina, severe uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmias, or electrocardiographic evidence of acute ischemia or active conduction system abnormalities. Prior to study entry, any ECG abnormality at Screening has to be documented by the investigator as not medically relevant.