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

You may be eligible if

• Histologically or cytologically documented non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma (including bronchoalveolar cell), and large cell anaplastic carcinoma (including giant and clear cell carcinomas)
• ELIGIBLE DISEASE STAGES: Inoperable IIIA and selected IIIB
• * Patients with direct invasion of vertebral body are ineligible
• * Patients with tumors adjacent to a vertebral body are eligible, unless there is demonstrable bone invasion, as long as all gross disease can be encompassed in the radiation boost field in accordance with the homogeneity criteria
• PATIENTS MUST HAVE MEASURABLE DISEASE
• * Lesions that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as \>= 20 mm with conventional techniques or as ≥10 mm with spiral CT scan
• * Lesions that are not considered measurable include 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
• PRIOR THERAPY
• * \>= 2 weeks since formal exploratory thoracotomy.
• * No prior chemotherapy or radiation therapy for NSCLC
• CTC performance status 0-2
• No "currently active" second malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancers; patients are not considered to have a "currently active" malignancy if they have completed therapy and are considered by their physician to be at less than 30% risk of relapse
• Non-pregnant and non-nursing because of significant risk to the fetus/infant
• No patients with uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
• No patients with chronic gastrointestinal disorders including liver disease, diarrheal or emetic disorders, or malabsorptive conditions which could worsen toxicity or limit efficacy of ZD1839
• No cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inducers within 7 days prior to starting protocol therapy and while on protocol treatment. CYP3A4 inducers: phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, rifampicin, dexamethasone, and St John's Wort; single doses of dexamethasone used as an antiemetic are permitted
• No human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy
• Granulocytes \>= 1,500/ul
• Platelets \>= 100,000/ul
• Calculated creatinine clearance \>= 20 cc/min
• Bilirubin \< 1.5 mg/dl
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\]) \< 2 x upper limit of normal (ULN)