RATIONALE: Studying samples of blood and tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer. It may also help doctors predict how patients will respond to treatment.

PURPOSE: This research study is looking at blood and tissue samples from patients with locally advanced, metastatic, or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer treated with bevacizumab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• To determine whether germline polymorphisms (DNA) of genes involved in DNA repair (e.g., XPD, ERCC-1, and others) and angiogenesis (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], interleukin-8, CXCR2, adrenomedullin, leptin, and others) are associated with toxicity and clinical outcome in patients with non-small cell lung cancer enrolled on protocol ECOG-4599.

OUTLINE: Blood samples previously obtained from patients on protocol ECOG-4599 are analyzed for the association of germline variations of genes involved in DNA repair (XPD and ERCC1), angiogenesis (VEGF and IL-8), and clinical outcome (overall survival, response, progression-free survival, and toxicity).

Tumor cells are collected from paraffin-embedded tissue using laser-capture microdissection and normal tissue is collected from the specimen. Polymorphisms in ERCC-1, XRCC-1, XRCC-3, GST-P1, TGF-β, and IL-8CXCR are assessed using Taqman assays.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Available serum or plasma samples from patients with locally advanced, metastatic, or recurrent non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer

  • Stage IIIB (with pleural effusion) or stage IV disease

• Enrolled on protocol ECOG-4599

  • Treated with carboplatin and paclitaxel with or without bevacizumab

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior chemotherapy

Samples submitted for research from patients participating in E4599