Imatinib Mesylate and Docetaxel in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Inclusion Criteria:

1. An written, voluntary informed consent form must be completed prior to beginning any study procedure.
2. Patients >/= 18 years of age.
3. Histologically documented diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer.
4. At least one measurable site of disease that is amenable to biopsy. Lesion must be at least 20 mm in the longest diameter by spiral computed tomography (CT) or 20 mm with conventional techniques according to RECIST. Lesion must not have been previously irradiated.
5. Performance status 0-1 (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG))
6. Patients must have adequate hepatic, renal, and bone marrow function, defined as the following: (1) total bilirubin < 1.5 * upper limit of normal (ULN); (2) serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) < 2.5 * UNL; (3) creatinine < 1.5 * ULN; (4) ANC > 1.5 * 10^9/L; (5) platelets > 100 * 10^9/L.
7. Female patients of childbearing potential must have negative pregnancy test within 7 days before initiation of study drug dosing. Postmenopausal women must be amenorrheic for at least 12 months to be considered of non-childbearing potential. Male and female patients of reproductive potential must agree to employ an effective barrier method of birth control throughout the study and for up to 3 months following discontinuation of study drug.
8. Patients who have received one prior systemic chemotherapy treatment (not including biologic agents e.g. gefitinib, lonafarnib).
9. Patients who were originally diagnosed with earlier stage Non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) & were treated with curative intent (i.e. pts who have received induction chemotherapy (platinum-based doublet) prior to definitive radiation or surgery) but then develop recurrent or metastatic disease & are then treated with a platinum-based doublet for frontline metastatic therapy are still eligible for this study. This is as long as they have not been exposed to docetaxel during any point of their therapy. Once patients have been diagnosed with metastatic or recurrent disease, they may only have received one platinum-based therapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patient has received any other investigational agents within 30 days of first day of study drug dosing.
2. Patient is < 5 years free of another primary malignancy except: if the other primary malignancy is not currently clinically significant nor requiring active intervention, or if other primary malignancy is a basal cell skin cancer or a cervical carcinoma in situ. Existence of any other malignant disease is not allowed.
3. Patient with Grade III/IV cardiac problems as defined by the New York Heart Association Criteria. (i.e., congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction within 6 months of study)
4. Female patients who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
5. Patient has a severe and/or uncontrolled medical disease (i.e., uncontrolled diabetes, chronic renal disease, or active uncontrolled infection).
6. Patient has a known untreated or unstable brain metastasis.
7. Patient has known chronic liver disease (i.e., chronic active hepatitis, and cirrhosis).
8. Patient has a known diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV patients are at much greater risk of infection when receiving highly myelosuppressive agents (docetaxel and imatinib) and for safety reasons are not eligible for this trial.
9. Patient received chemotherapy within 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosourea or mitomycin-C) prior to study entry, unless the disease is rapidly progressing.
10. Patient previously received radiotherapy to >/= 25 % of the bone marrow
11. Patient had a major surgery within 2 weeks prior to study entry.
12. Patient with any significant history of non-compliance to medical regimens or with inability to grant reliable informed consent.
13. Patients must agree not to use herbal remedies or other over-the-counter biologics (i.e. shark cartilage)
14. History of hypersensitivity to docetaxel or other taxane therapy.
15. History of severe hypersensitivity reaction to drugs formulated with polysorbate 80.
16. Prior exposure to imatinib mesylate.
17. Prior exposure to docetaxel systemic therapy for this NSCLC malignancy.
18. Patient treated with more than 1 prior systemic chemotherapy (not including biologic agents e.g. gefitinib, lonafarnib)
19. Participation in an investigational trial within the past 30 days.
20. Patients taking therapeutic levels of warfarin. However, patients receiving 1 mg daily for catheter related anticoagulation are eligible for the study.
21. Prior pericardial effusion requiring intervention such as pericardiocentesis or pericardial window.