Certolizumab, Cisplatin, and Pemetrexed Disodium in Treating Patients with Previously Untreated Stage IV Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• Previously untreated stage IV lung adenocarcinoma confirmed at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)
• Karnofsky performance status >= 70
• Patients with locally treated, stable, and/or asymptomatic brain metastases are eligible
• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1.5 x 10^9/L
• Hemoglobin >= 8 g/dL
• Platelets >= 100 x 10^9/L
• Serum total bilirubin =< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) (except for patients with documented Gilbert's syndrome)
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =< 2.5 x ULN or =< 5 x ULN if liver metastases are present
• Serum creatinine =< 1.5 x upper limit of normal or creatinine clearance >= 60 ml/min for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal
• Negative purified protein derivative (PPD) test
• For women of child-bearing potential, negative pregnancy test within 14 days prior to starting treatment
• Men and women of childbearing age must be willing to use effective contraception while on treatment and for at least 3 months thereafter
• Presence of at least one site of measurable disease as defined by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1
• Archival tissue (10 unstained slides - 5 micron sections) from a core biopsy performed and received within 30 days before signing consent or ability to have a fresh core biopsy performed * Biopsy cannot be from cytology or bone specimen * Biopsy site must be amenable to re-biopsy at the end of study ** In the event that the tumor resolves on treatment, another site amenable to biopsy will be selected
• Ability to provide written, informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• Hypersensitivity to platinum agents
• Ongoing use of investigational agents or use of investigational agents within the last four weeks
• Prior use of agents for TNF-alpha blockade
• History of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, or psoriatic arthritis
• Baseline hearing deficit (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE] version 4.0 grade 2 or higher)
• Ongoing bacterial, viral, or antifungal infection requiring antimicrobial treatment with the exception of thrush
• Active tuberculosis or untreated, latent tuberculosis * If a patient has signs, symptoms, or a history suggestive of active tuberculosis, evaluation by an infectious disease physician will be required and active tuberculosis ruled-out prior to enrollment
• Acute or chronic hepatitis B or C infection
• Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection requiring antiretroviral medications and those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
• Active herpes zoster infection
• Non-healed infected skin ulcers
• History of myocardial infarction or unstable angina within the past 12 months
• Ongoing use of other immunosuppressive medications, including oral steroids and excluding topical steroids
• Women who are breastfeeding
• Prior history of other malignancy with the exclusion of localized prostate cancer, non-melanomatous skin cancer, ductal carcinoma or lobular carcinoma in situ of the breast