Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer

- Squamous, adenosquamous, large cell, or poorly differentiated

- Stage IIIA (T1-3, N2, M0)

- N2 disease confirmed by 1 of the following:

- Mediastinoscopy

- Bronchoscopy with fine-needle aspiration or esophagoscopy

- All N3 lymph nodes must be negative by positron-emission tomography
(PET) AND CT scan (< 1 cm in the largest diameter)

- PET scan

- Both the primary tumor and at least 1 N2 lymph node must be positive
in PET scan

- At least 1 of the PET scan positive N2 lymph nodes is positive in the
CT scan (> 1 cm in the largest diameter)

- All N3 lymph nodes negative in PET scan

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 to 75

Performance status:

- WHO 0-1

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- WBC at least 4,000/mm^3

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

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin normal

- AST/ALT no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

- Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

- Cardiac function normal

- No unstable cardiac disease requiring treatment

- No congestive heart failure

- No angina pectoris even if medically controlled

- No significant arrhythmia

- No myocardial infarction in the past 3 months

Pulmonary:

- Lung function appropriate

Neurologic:

- No history of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorders

- No psychotic disorders

- No dementia

- No seizures

Other:

- No other prior or concurrent malignancies except nonmelanoma skin cancer, adequately
treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or any other neoplastic disease with a
disease-free interval ≥ 5 years

- No active uncontrolled infection

- No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus

- No gastric ulcers

- No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy greater than grade 1

- No contraindications to corticosteroids

- No other serious underlying medical condition that would preclude study participation

- No socioeconomic or geographic condition that would preclude study participation

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- Not specified

Chemotherapy:

- No prior cytostatic chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- No concurrent prednisone except for treatment of acute hypersensitivity reactions or
chronic low-dose treatment initiated more than 6 months prior to study entry (i.e.,
no greater than 20 mg methylprednisolone or equivalent)

Radiotherapy:

- No prior radiotherapy to chest

Surgery:

- Not specified

Other:

- At least 30 days since participation in another clinical study

- No other concurrent experimental drugs