Study of Aerosolized Liposomal 9-Nitro-20 (S)- Camptothecin (L9NC)

This is a single-arm, non-randomized Phase II trial of DLPC-9NC administered by aerosol 5 consecutive days per week for 8 weeks every 10 weeks.

Dose: 0.4 mg/ml of 9-NC in aerosol reservoir for 60 minutes (= daily dose of 0.52 mg/m2/day) per day X5 every week, X8 weeks, then observe for 2 weeks. One course = 10 weeks.

Patients that have a resectable lung cancer will only receive one course of treatment and will be operated on about two weeks after completing the 8-week course.

Inclusion criteria

• All patients, 18 years of age or older, with resectable lung cancer (any stage) or stage 3b, 4, or recurrent, nonresectable, non-small-cell lung carcinoma, who have failed standard chemotherapy or radiotherapy for their disease or who refuse standard therapy are eligible.
• Patients must have a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks.
• Patients must have a Zubrod performance status of 0-2.
• Patients must sign an informed consent.
• Patients should have adequate bone marrow function defined by an absolute peripheral granulocyte count of >1,500 or cells/mm3 and platelet count >100,000/mm3 and absence of a regular red blood cell transfusion requirement.
• Patients should have adequate hepatic function with a total bilirubin < 2 mg/dl and SGOT or SGPT < two times the upper limit of normal, and adequate renal function as defined by a serum creatinine < 1.5 x upper limit of normal.
• Patients must not have a known symptomatic respiratory disease other than cancer, and must have a pulmonary function test equal to >50% FEV1, >50% FEV1/FVC, >50% TLC, and >50% DLCO of predicted values.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with symptomatic brain metastases are excluded from this study.
• Pregnant women or nursing mothers are not eligible for this trial. Patients of child bearing potential must use adequate contraception.
• Patients may receive no other concurrent chemotherapy or radiation therapy during this trial.
• Patients with severe medical problems such as uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular disease or active infections are not eligible for this trial.
• Any criteria that is borderline and may lead to ineligibility will be reviewed by the PI, who may override the eligibility criteria, after receiving sponsor agreement, if entry into the study is deemed to potentially benefit the patient.