Combination Chemotherapy Plus Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Stage I, II, or III NSCLC that is unresectable due to tumor extent or other medical reasons
Measurable disease
Tumor must not exceed volume that would require radiation volumes greater than those allowed on this study
No more than blunting of the costophrenic angle on chest x-ray due to pleural effusions
No more than small effusions seen on chest CT scan only
No supraclavicular adenopathy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

Total bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) OR
Direct bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times ULN
AST no greater than 3 times ULN

Renal:

Creatinine clearance at least 40 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease

Pulmonary:

FEV_1 at least 1 L or 35% of predicted

Other:

No grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy
No weight loss of 10% or more within the past 3 months
No uncontrolled infection
No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, adequately treated noninvasive carcinoma (carcinoma in situ), or localized prostate cancer
No other severe underlying disease that would preclude study participation
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic:

No prior biologic therapy for NSCLC
No concurrent biologic therapy
No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF)

Chemotherapy:

No prior chemotherapy for NSCLC
No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

No prior endocrine therapy for NSCLC

Radiotherapy:

No prior radiotherapy for NSCLC

Surgery:

No prior surgery for NSCLC