Current Clinical Trials

Stage 0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is defined by the following clinical stage grouping:

• Tis, N0, M0

Stage 0 NSCLC is the same as carcinoma in situ of the lung. Because these tumors are by definition noninvasive and incapable of metastasizing, they should be curable with surgical resection; however, a high incidence of second primary cancers, many of which are unresectable, exists. Endoscopic phototherapy with a hematoporphyrin derivative has been described as an alternative to surgical resection in carefully selected patients.[1-3] This treatment, which is under clinical evaluation, seems to be most effective for very early central tumors that extend less than 1 cm within the bronchus.[2] Efficacy of this treatment modality in the management of early NSCLC remains to be proven.

Standard treatment options:

1. Surgical resection using the least extensive technique possible (segmentectomy or wedge resection) to preserve maximum normal pulmonary tissue because these patients are at high risk for second lung cancers.



2. Endoscopic photodynamic therapy.[2,3]

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage 0 non-small cell lung cancer. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria.

General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site.

References

1. Woolner LB, Fontana RS, Cortese DA, et al.: Roentgenographically occult lung cancer: pathologic findings and frequency of multicentricity during a 10-year period. Mayo Clin Proc 59 (7): 453-66, 1984.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
2. Furuse K, Fukuoka M, Kato H, et al.: A prospective phase II study on photodynamic therapy with photofrin II for centrally located early-stage lung cancer. The Japan Lung Cancer Photodynamic Therapy Study Group. J Clin Oncol 11 (10): 1852-7, 1993.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
3. Edell ES, Cortese DA: Photodynamic therapy in the management of early superficial squamous cell carcinoma as an alternative to surgical resection. Chest 102 (5): 1319-22, 1992.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   

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