S0022:Combination Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer

Adenocarcinoma
Large cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma

Pathologically or radiographically documented positive N3 nodes

No positive supraclavicular or scalene lymph nodes with disease extending into the cervical region OR

T4 tumor invading any of the following:

Mediastinum
Heart
Great vessels
Trachea
Esophagus
Vertebral body
Carina
No brain, contralateral chest, liver, or adrenal metastases
No more than 1 parenchymal lesion
No malignant pleural effusions unless they are only visible on CT scan or deemed too small to tap
No pericardial effusions
Measurable disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy:

Not specified

Hematopoietic:

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

Hepatic:

Not specified

Renal:

Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min

Pulmonary:

One of the following:

FEV1 at least 2.0 L
Predicted FEV1 of contralateral lung greater than 800 mL
Predicted post-treatment FEV1 at least 1.0 L

Other:

No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
Not pregnant or nursing
Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

No concurrent growth factors during induction chemoradiotherapy

Chemotherapy:

No prior chemotherapy for lung cancer

Endocrine therapy:

Not specified

Radiotherapy:

No prior radiotherapy for lung cancer

Surgery:

No prior surgical resection of lung cancer
Prior exploratory thoracotomy, mediastinoscopy, excisional biopsy, or similar surgery for determining diagnosis, stage, or potential resectability allowed