Zoledronic Acid and Positron Emission Tomography in Treating Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer

  • Stage IIIB (with pleural effusion) or stage IV disease
• Candidate for systemic therapy
• Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques or ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan

• No active brain metastases

  • More than 7 days since prior radiotherapy for brain metastases
  • Must be neurologically stable with no seizures within the past 3 weeks

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 OR Karnofsky PS 60-100%
• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm³
• ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST or ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases present)
• Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min by Cockcroft-Gault formula
• No current active dental problems, including infection of the teeth or jawbone (maxilla or mandible)
• No dental or fixture trauma, or a current or prior diagnosis of osteonecrosis of the jaw, of exposed bone in the mouth, or of slow healing after dental procedures
• Not pregnant

• No uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:

  • Ongoing or active infection
  • Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  • Unstable angina pectoris
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior or other concurrent bisphosphonates
• More than 2 weeks since prior surgery
• More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) and recovered
• More than 7 days since prior palliative radiotherapy and recovered
• More than 6 weeks since prior and no planned dental or jaw surgery
• More than 30 days since prior participation in an investigational trial
• No other concurrent investigational agent