Gefitinib, Docetaxel, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

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

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

Stage IIIA/B disease

Unresectable disease

Tumors adjacent to a vertebral body allowed

No demonstrable bone invasion
All gross disease must be able to be encompassed in the radiation boost field in accordance with the homogeneity criteria

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

No scalene, supraclavicular, or contralateral hilar node involvement

Pleural effusion allowed if it is transudate, cytologically negative, and non-bloody AND tumor can be encompassed within a reasonable field of radiotherapy

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

Measurable disease, defined as lesions that can be accurately measured in ≥ 1 dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as ≥ 20 mm with conventional techniques or as ≥ 10 mm with spiral CT scan

No nonmeasurable disease, including any of the following:

Bone lesions
Leptomeningeal disease
Ascites
Pleural/pericardial effusion
Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
Cystic lesions
Tumor lesions situated in a previously irradiated area

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

ECOG performance status 0-1
Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
Hemoglobin > 8.0 g/dL
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
Bilirubin < 1.5 mg/dL
Creatinine < 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

Meets 1 of the following criteria:

AST and ALT < 2 times ULN
AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN AND alkaline phosphatase (AP) normal
AST and ALT normal AND AP ≤ 4 times ULN
FEV_1 ≥ 1.2 L

No other currently active malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancers

Patients are not considered to have another currently active malignancy if they have completed therapy for the other malignancy and are considered by their physician to be at < 30% risk of relapse (i.e., after treatment for early-stage prostate cancer)
Not pregnant or nursing
Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completing treatment
No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80
No known severe hypersensitivity to gefitinib or any of the excipients of this product
No evidence of severe or uncontrolled systemic disease (e.g., unstable or uncompensated respiratory, cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease)
No evidence of any other significant clinical disorder or laboratory finding that would limit compliance with study requirements
No evidence of clinically active interstitial lung disease (asymptomatic, chronic stable radiographic changes allowed)
No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 1

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

At least 2 weeks since prior formal exploratory thoracotomy
No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for NSCLC
No prior epidermal growth factor-targeting drugs (i.e., gefitinib, erlotinib, or cetuximab)
No other investigational agent within 30 days of study entry
No concurrent phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampicin, barbiturates, or Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort)

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

Steroids for adrenal failure, allergic reactions, or septic shock
Hormones for nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
Glucocorticosteroids as anti-emetics