Carboplatin, Paclitaxel, Selenomethionine, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including any of the following histologic subtypes:

Squamous cell carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma (including bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma)
Large cell anaplastic carcinoma (including giant and clear cell carcinoma)

Stage IIIA disease OR selected stage IIIB disease

T1-2, N2 disease OR T3, N2 or T4, N0-N2 disease (if based on tumor closeness to the carina, invasion of the mediastinum, or invasion of the chest wall)

Contralateral mediastinal disease (N3) allowed if all gross disease can be encompassed in the radiation boost field

Tumors adjacent to a vertebral body allowed unless there is demonstrable bone invasion

All gross disease must be able to be encompassed in the radiation boost field
No direct invasion of a vertebrae body
Unresectable or inoperable disease
Measurable disease
Suitable for radiotherapy, as deemed by the radiation oncologist
No scalene, supraclavicular, or contralateral hilar node involvement

Pleural effusion allowed provided it is transudate, cytologically negative, and non-bloody, and, according to the radiation oncologist, the tumor can be encompassed within a reasonable radiation field

Pleural effusion seen on chest CT scan, but not on chest x-ray, that is too small to tap is allowed
No exudative, bloody, or cytologically malignant effusions
No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

ECOG performance status 0-1
ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³
Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm³
Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
Creatinine normal

Alkaline phosphatase AND AST or ALT meeting 1 of the following criteria:

Alkaline phosphatase normal AND AST or ALT ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN AND AST or ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN
Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 5 times ULN AND AST or ALT normal
Able to swallow oral medications
No peripheral neuropathy > grade 1
No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to selenomethionine or agents formulated with Cremophor EL

No concurrent uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:

Ongoing or active infection
Symptomatic congestive heart failure
Unstable angina pectoris
Clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia
Psychiatric illness or social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements

No currently "active" second malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancer

Patients are considered not to have an "active" malignancy if they have completed therapy and are considered by their physician to be at less than 30% risk of relapse
Not pregnant
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

At least 2 weeks since prior formal exploratory thoracotomy (N2 node identified making patient ineligible for surgery)
No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for NSCLC
No prior taxanes or platinum drugs
No other concurrent investigational agents or anticancer therapy
No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients

No other concurrent chemotherapy or hormonal therapy, except for the following:

Steroids administered for adrenal failure or septic shock
Hormones administered for non-disease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
Glucocorticosteroids administered as antiemetics