Gemcitabine, Cisplatin, and Gefitinib in Treating Patients Who Are Undergoing Surgery for Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
• * Clinical stage IIIA by chest CT scan
• * Unresectable N2 disease by mediastinoscopy, mediastinotomy, thoracotomy, or video-assisted thoracic surgery
• Measurable disease
• * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• Planning to undergo lobectomy or pneumonectomy after induction therapy
• No N3 or metastatic disease by physical exam, thoracic CT scan, bone scan, and CT scan or ultrasound of the liver and adrenal glands
• No pleural or pericardial effusion
• No superior vena cava syndrome
• No diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis
• No signs or symptoms of CNS involvement
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• Over 18
• Performance status
• WHO 0-2
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic
• AST and ALT ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin normal
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• Renal
• Creatinine ≤ 1.25 times ULN
• Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
• Cardiovascular
• No medically uncontrolled congestive heart failure or angina pectoris
• No uncontrolled hypertension or arrhythmia
• No myocardial infarction within the past year
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• Physically and mentally fit to receive gemcitabine- and cisplatin-containing chemotherapy
• Physiologically fit to undergo surgery
• No uncontrolled, active infection requiring IV antibiotics
• No history of hypersensitivity to gefitinib or any of its excipients
• No motor or sensory neurotoxicity ≥ grade 2
• No other primary malignancy within the past 5 years except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or adequately treated basal cell skin cancer
• * No prior melanoma, breast cancer, or renal cell cancer
• No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude study compliance
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• No concurrent immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy
• No prior chemotherapy for NSCLC
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy
• No concurrent antiestrogen therapy
• Concurrent replacement steroids and antiemetic steroids allowed
• Radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy for NSCLC
• Surgery
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior surgery for NSCLC
• Other
• More than 1 month since prior and no concurrent investigational agents
• No other prior therapy for NSCLC
• No concurrent CYP3A4 inducers, including any of the following:
• * Phenytoin
• * Carbamazepine
• * Rifampin
• * Barbiturates (e.g., phenobarbital)
• * Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
• No concurrent systemic retinoids
• No other concurrent antitumor therapy