Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer

- Adenocarcinoma

- Large cell carcinoma

- Squamous cell carcinoma

- Pathologically or radiographically documented positive N3 nodes

- No positive supraclavicular or scalene lymph nodes with disease extending into
the cervical region OR

- T4 tumor invading any of the following:

- Mediastinum

- Heart

- Great vessels

- Trachea

- Esophagus

- Vertebral body

- Carina

- No brain, contralateral chest, liver, or adrenal metastases

- No more than 1 parenchymal lesion

- No malignant pleural effusions unless they are only visible on CT scan or deemed too
small to tap

- No pericardial effusions

- Measurable disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Not specified

Renal:

- Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min

Pulmonary:

- One of the following:

- FEV1 at least 2.0 L

- Predicted FEV1 of contralateral lung greater than 800 mL

- Predicted post-treatment FEV1 at least 1.0 L

Other:

- No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal
cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- No concurrent growth factors during induction chemoradiotherapy

Chemotherapy:

- No prior chemotherapy for lung cancer

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- No prior radiotherapy for lung cancer

Surgery:

- No prior surgical resection of lung cancer

- Prior exploratory thoracotomy, mediastinoscopy, excisional biopsy, or similar surgery
for determining diagnosis, stage, or potential resectability allowed