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

You may be eligible if

• 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