Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy in Treating Patients with Limited Stage or Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To assess the safety and efficacy of intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) for small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the optimal schedule for three-dimensional verification imaging and necessary re-planning of patients undergoing IMPT for a rapidly changing tumor (small cell lung cancer).

II. To determine the rate of cardiac toxicities from IMPT in patients with small cell lung cancer compared with historical controls receiving photon-based treatment.

III. To determine the rate of pneumonitis and esophagitis from IMPT and compare with historical controls receiving photon based treatment.

OUTLINE:

Beginning no later than 6 weeks after last cycle of chemotherapy, patients undergo IMPT. Patients undergo positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and biopsy during screening and CT scan throughout the study.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months, 1 year, and then every 6 months for up to 5 years.