The goal of phase 1 of this clinical research study is to find the highest dose of DOTAP:Chol-TUSC2 that can be safely given in combination with Tarceva (erlotinib hydrochloride) to patients with NSCLC. The goal of phase 2 of this clinical research study is to learn if the combination of DOTAP:Chol-TUSC2 and erlotinib hydrochloride can help to control NSCLC. The safety of this drug combination will also be studied in both phases. DOTAP:Chol-TUSC2 (previously FUS1) is a drug that helps transfer a gene called TUSC2 into cancer cells. Researchers think that cells without this gene may be involved in the development of lung cancer tumors. They want to find out if replacing the gene in these cells may keep the tissue from forming cancer cells. Erlotinib hydrochloride is designed to block a protein on tumor cells that may control tumor growth and survival. This may stop tumors from growing.
Name: DOTAP:Chol-TUSC2
Description: Starting Dose 0.045 mg/kg by vein on day 1 of each 21 day cycle; Phase II is Maximum Tolerated Dose from Phase I.Type: DrugDOTAP + Erlotinib
Name: Erlotinib
Description: Starting Dose 100 mg by mouth each day of a 21 day cycle (except for first week of Cycle 1, if enrolled in Phase II delayed-schedule group). Phase II is Maximum Tolerated Dose from Phase I.Type: DrugDOTAP + Erlotinib
Name: Dexamethasone
Description: 8 mg orally 24 and 12 hours and 20 mg by vein 30 minutes before DOTAP:Chol-TUSC2 treatment followed by 8 mg orally at 12, 24 and 36 hours after treatment (total number doses = 5).Type: DrugDOTAP + Erlotinib
Name: Diphenhydramine
Description: 50 mg by mouth or by vein 30 minutes prior to treatment with DOTAP:Chol TUSC2Type: DrugDOTAP + Erlotinib
Description: MTD defined as dose level at which less than 2 participants experience dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). Toxicity graded according to National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) Version 4. DLT will be grade > 3 toxicity occurring during the first cycle of therapy (i.e., within the first 3 weeks).
Measure: Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) Level for Drug Treatment Combination Time: First 21 day cycleDescription: Responses determined by RECIST criteria. Responses will include only complete response (CR) + partial response (PR). Participants considered as non-responders when tumor progression by RECIST is observed. Measurable disease is defined as tumor masses with identifiable diameters measurable in two dimensions by computed tomography. Best overall response is best response designation recorded from the start of treatment until disease progression. Complete and partial responses have to be confirmed by two evaluations of the disease taken at least four weeks apart.
Measure: Response Rate Time: After two, 21 day cyclesSingle Group Assignment
There is one SNP
Subjects must have specimens adequate for analysis of EGFR mutations (and other clinically relevant biomarkers) 4. All subjects with an activating EGFR mutation (exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R mutation) are eligible IF they have progressed following treatment with a first, second, or third generation EGFR inhibitor. --- L858R ---