Ph I/II Nab-Paclitaxel & Carboplatin w/Concurrent Radiation Therapy for Unresectable Stg III NSCLC

OBJECTIVES: Primary * To determine the maximum tolerated dose of nab-paclitaxel when combined concurrently with carboplatin and radiation followed by two courses of nab-paclitaxel carboplatin as consolidation. (Phase I) * To evaluate the progression-free survival in patients with stage III unresectable non-small cell lung cancer treated with nab-paclitaxel, carboplatin, and radiotherapy followed by two courses of nab-paclitaxel with carboplatin as consolidation. (Phase II) Secondary * To assess safety and tolerability and identify dose-limiting toxicities in patients receiving nab-paclitaxel combined concurrently with carboplatin and radiotherapy. (Phase I) * To assess progression-free survival, response rates, and survival. (Phase I) * To assess overall survival and response rates in all patients treated on this study. (Phase II) * To assess the safety and tolerability of patients receiving nab-paclitaxel combined concurrently with carboplatin and radiotherapy followed by two courses of nab-paclitaxel/carboplatin as consolidation. (Phase II) OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. * Phase I: * Concurrent chemoradiotherapy: Patients receive escalating doses of nab-paclitaxel IV over 30 minutes and carboplatin IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, and 43. They also receive conformal radiotherapy once daily 5 days a week on days 1-5 in weeks 1-7. Patients are evaluated between weeks 8-10. Patients with disease progression are removed from study. Patients with stable disease, partial response, or complete response proceed to consolidation chemotherapy 3 weeks after completion of chemoradiotherapy. * Consolidation chemotherapy: Patients receive nab-paclitaxel IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15 and carboplatin IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats ever 21 days for up to 2 courses. * Phase II: Patients receive concurrent chemoradiotherapy at the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) of nab-paclitaxel followed by consolidation chemotherapy as in phase I. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed at 2 months, every 3 months for 2 years, every 4 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months thereafter. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 98 patients (15 patients for phase I and 83 patients for phase II) will be accrued for this study.