Randomized, Phase III, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Sunitinib (NSC #736511) as Maintenance Therapy in Non-progressing Patients Following an Initial Four Cycles of Platinum-Based Combination Chemotherapy in Advanced, Stage IIIB / IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

This randomized phase III trial studies sunitinib malate to see how well it works when given as maintenance therapy (meaning it is approved for treatment after chemotherapy) in patients with stage IIIB-IV non-small cell lung cancer who have responded to prior treatment with combination chemotherapy. Sunitinib malate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking the growth of new blood vessels necessary for tumor growth. It is not yet known whether sunitinib malate is effective in helping tumors continue to shrink or stop growing.