Name of the Trial
Phase III Randomized Chemoprevention Study of Selenium in Participants with Previously Resected Stage I Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (ECOG-5597). See the protocol summary at http://cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/ECOG-5597.

Principal Investigators
Dr. Daniel David Karp, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; Dr. Omer Kucuk, Southwest Oncology Group; Dr. Randolph Marks, North Central Cancer Treatment Group; Dr. Michael R. Johnston, National Cancer Institute of Canada; Dr. Gerald H. Clamon, Cancer and Leukemia Group B; Dr. Steven Belinsky, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute.

Why Is This Trial Important?
Lung cancer is responsible for more cancer deaths in America than breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer combined. In its earliest stages, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be removed surgically with potentially curative results. However, the incidence of a second tumor developing in patients who have been treated surgically for early-stage NSCLC is about 20 to 30 percent.

In this study, researchers are investigating the ability of selenium to prevent the development of secondary lung tumors in patients with surgically removed, early-stage NSCLC. Selenium is an essential dietary mineral that has been shown in animal studies to inhibit the growth of tumors. It is also associated with reduced cancer incidence in some animal populations.

"Selenium may help prevent cancer through a number of different mechanisms," said Dr. Karp. "It is an essential component of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which protects tissue from oxidative damage and may help stimulate apoptosis (cell death). Selenium may also play an anti-inflammatory role by blocking the 5-lipoxygenase pathway."

Who Can Join This Trial?
Researchers seek to enroll 1,960 patients 18 years of age and older who have had stage I NSCLC completely removed by surgery. See the list of eligibility criteria at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/ECOG-5597.

Where Is This Trial Taking Place?
Study sites in the United States and Canada are enrolling patients in this trial. See the list of study sites at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/ECOG-5597.

Contact Information
See the list of study contacts at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/ECOG-5597, or call the NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). The call is toll free and completely confidential.

An archive of "Featured Clinical Trial" columns is available at http://cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/ft-all-featured-trials.