Cisplatin, Pemetrexed Disodium, and Radiation Therapy Followed by Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologic or cytologic diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), meeting 1 of the following staging criteria:

Stage IIIA disease, meeting all of the following criteria:

Mediastinal lymph node involvement

Greater than one mediastinal lymph node enlarged on CT scan, confirmed by positron emission tomography (PET) scan
Paralyzed left vocal cord with separate lung primary distinct from the aorto-pulmonary lymph nodes on the CT scan

Stage IIIB disease, meeting all of the following criteria:

N3 lymph node involvement

Enlarged N3 lymph nodes on CT scan confirmed by PET scan

Lymph node involvement may not extend to cervical lymph nodes other than supraclavicular lymph nodes
Right-sided primary tumor with left vocal cord paralysis
Evidence of tumor extension into the mediastinum and/or mediastinal structures by mediastinoscopy, bronchoscopy, or CT scan
No evidence of malignant pleural effusion unless effusion is only evident on CT scan
No more than 1 parenchymal lesions on the same or opposite sides of the lung
No brain metastases by CT scan or MRI

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

SWOG performance status 0 or 1
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Creatinine clearance ≥ 45 mL/min
Bilirubin normal
Transaminases (SGOT and/or SGPT) ≤ 1.5 times ULN
Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
Total lung volume (i.e., right and left lung minus the gross tumor volume) receiving greater than 20 Gy of radiation ≤ 40%
FEV_1 ≥ 70% of predicted
DLCO ≥ 50 mL/min

No other concurrent malignancy

Prior malignancy allowed provided it is in clinical control and is not likely to impact clinical outcome in the opinion of the treating physician
No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2

No serious medical illness, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

Uncontrolled congestive heart failure
Uncontrolled angina
Myocardial infarction
Cerebrovascular event within the past 6 months
History of chronic active hepatitis
History of HIV infection
Active bacterial infection
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
Must be willing and able to take folic acid, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), or dexamethasone

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for NSCLC
No concurrent participation in another therapeutic investigational study
Concurrent ibuprofen (400 mg four times daily) allowed during pemetrexed disodium administration provided the patient has normal renal function

No concurrent aspirin or other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 2 days before, during, and for 2 days after pemetrexed disodium administration

Patients on long-acting NSAIDs (e.g. naproxen sodium, diflunisal, nabumetone, or celecoxib) must be willing or able to discontinue usage 5 days prior to, during, and for 2 days after pemetrexed disodium administration