Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage IV Lung Cancer

Stage IV Lung Cancer patients receive gradually escalating doses of intravenous
Antineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal) until the maximum tolerated dose is reached.
Treatment continues up to 12 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable
toxicity.

OBJECTIVES:

- To determine the efficacy of Antineoplaston therapy in patients with Stage IV Lung
Cancer, as measured by an objective response to therapy (complete response, partial
response or stable disease).

- To determine the safety and tolerance of Antineoplaston therapy in patients with Stage
IV Lung Cancer.

- To determine objective response, tumor size is measured utilizing MRI scans, which are
performed every 8 weeks for the first two years, every 3 months for the third and fourth
years, every 6 months for the 5th and sixth years, and annually thereafter. Cancer
patients receive gradually escalating doses of intravenous Antineoplaston therapy
(Atengenal + Astugenal) until the maximum tolerated dose is reached. Treatment continues
up to 12 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed large cell, undifferentiated, or poorly differentiated stage
IV lung cancer unlikely to have a curative response to existing standard regimens

- Measurable disease by MRI or CT scan

- At least 2 cm in diameter

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

- At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

- WBC at least 2,000/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 50,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL

- SGOT/SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal

- No hepatic failure

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL

- No renal insufficiency

- No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

- No severe heart disease

- No uncontrolled hypertension

- No history of congestive heart failure

- No history of other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of
sodium

Pulmonary:

- No severe lung disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study
participation

- No serious active infections

- No other concurrent serious disease

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered

- No concurrent immunomodulating agent

Chemotherapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered

- No concurrent antineoplastic agent

Endocrine therapy:

- Concurrent corticosteroids allowed

Radiotherapy:

- At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

- Recovered from prior surgery

Other:

- No prior antineoplaston therapy

- Prior cytodifferentiating agent allowed