SILVAThe SILVA Study: Survival in an International Phase III Prospective Randomized LD Small Cell Lung Cancer Vaccination Study With Adjuvant BEC2 and BCG

Study start date: March 1, 1998

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically proven limited stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) Must have completed adequate first-line combined modality treatment comprising at least 4-6 courses of a 2-drug chemotherapy regimen and chest radiotherapy No evidence of disease progression or relapse Disease response (complete or partial) after treatment PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC greater that 3,000/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: AST less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal Hepatitis B negative Renal: Not specified Cardiovascular: Adequate cardiac function Other: HIV negative Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No prior malignancy within 5 years except adequately treated nonmelanomatous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No history of tuberculosis No grade 3 local skin toxicity reaction (ulceration) to 5 IU or greater of PPD test No active infections requiring systemic antibiotics, antiviral, or antifungal treatments No serious unstable chronic illnesses No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude study PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior therapy with proteins of murine origin At least one month since prior immunotherapy No other concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent chronic use of systemic corticosteroids Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No concurrent radiotherapy including prophylactic cranial irradiation No prior spleen radiotherapy Surgery: No prior surgery for SCLC No prior splenectomy Other: No prior second-line therapy for SCLC At least one month since prior investigational agents No concurrent chronic use of systemic antihistamines or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs No concurrent immunosuppressive therapy