Specialized Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage II, Stage III, Stage IV, or Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Poor Performance Status

OBJECTIVES: Primary * To escalate the dose of accelerated hypofractionated image-guided conformal radiotherapy to a potent tumoricidal dose without exceeding the maximum-tolerated dose in patients with recurrent or stage II-IV non-small cell lung cancer and poor performance status. Secondary * To evaluate local regional tumor control and overall survival of patients treated with this regimen. OUTLINE: Patients undergo accelerated hypofractionated image-guided conformal radiotherapy once daily, 5 days a week, for 3 weeks (15 fractions). Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study therapy, patients are followed up periodically for up to 5 years.