A Phase 2 Study Adding Ascorbate to Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy for NSCLC

This clinical trial evaluates adding high-dose ascorbate (vitamin C) to a standard therapy for non-small cell lung cancer. The standard therapy is radiation therapy combined with carboplatin and paclitaxel (types of chemotherapy). All subjects will receive high-dose ascorbate in addition to the standard therapy.

Inclusion Criteria: Note: patients who have a small pleural effusion that is too small to safety tap and is not visible on a chest x-ray are still eligible * Pathologic diagnosis (i.e., cell sample, biopsy, tissue swap, bronchoscopy) of non-small cell lung cancer. * Recommended to receive carboplatin \& paclitaxel with radiation therapy as a treatment * Tumor or metastatic disease must measure at least 1 cm using a CT scan (CAT scan) * Physician determined the patient is healthy enough for chemotherapy and radiation therapy * At least part of the lung cancer must be viewable and measurable by CT or MRI * A platelet count of at least 100,000 cells per mililiter * A creatinine level of less than 1 1/2 times the upper limit of normal for the local lab test, or, a creatinine clearance of at least 60 mL/(min\*1.73m2) * Not pregnant, and commit to using birth control during the study Exclusion Criteria: * Exudative pleural effusion * Recurrent non-small cell lung cancer * Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency * Patients actively receiving insulin or patients whose doctors have recommended current insulin use * Patients requiring daily finger-stick blood glucose measurements * Patients who are on the following drugs and cannot have a substitution or who decline the substitution: * warfarin * flecainide * methadone * amphetamines * quinidine * chlorpropamide * Prior radiation therapy that would result in a field overlap * Enrolled in another therapeutic clinical trial * Uncontrolled, intercurrent illness * Lactating women * HIV positive individuals undergoing therapy due to known drug:drug interaction between antiretroviral drugs and high-dose ascorbate therapy If all the above are met, the potential participant will receive a 15 gram challenge dose of ascorbate via intravenous infusion. This is the final screening procedure.