Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed small cell carcinoma of the lung by fine
needle aspiration biopsy or two positive sputa

- Must have limited disease

- Stage I, II, IIIA, or IIIB

- Confined to 1 hemithorax, but excluding the following:

- T4 tumor based on malignant pleural effusion

- N3 disease based on contralateral hilar or supraclavicular involvement

- No pericardial or pleural effusions on chest x-ray (regardless of cytology)

- Measurable or evaluable disease

- Tumor must be able to be encompassed by limited radiotherapy fields without
significantly compromising pulmonary function

- No prior complete tumor resection

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- 18 to 100

Performance status

- Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy

- Not specified

Hematopoietic

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

- Platelet count at least 150,000/mm^3

Hepatic

- Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Renal

- Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

- No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

- No symptomatic heart disease

Pulmonary

- No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with FEV_1 no greater than 0.8 liter

- No uncontrolled bronchospasm in the unaffected lung

Other

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- Available for follow-up

- No other malignancy within the past 2 years except curatively treated basal cell or
squamous cell skin cancer or non-invasive in situ malignancies

- No other concurrent serious medical illness

- No uncontrolled psychiatric illness

- No chronic alcohol or drug abuse

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- Not specified

Chemotherapy

- No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

- Not specified

Radiotherapy

- No prior radiotherapy to the chest or other area containing a large amount of bone
marrow (e.g., more than 75% of pelvic bone)

Surgery

- See Disease Characteristics