Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

- Clinical stage IIIA by chest CT scan

- Unresectable N2 disease by mediastinoscopy, mediastinotomy, thoracotomy, or
video-assisted thoracic surgery

- Measurable disease

- At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques
OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan

- Planning to undergo lobectomy or pneumonectomy after induction therapy

- No N3 or metastatic disease by physical exam, thoracic CT scan, bone scan, and CT
scan or ultrasound of the liver and adrenal glands

- No pleural or pericardial effusion

- No superior vena cava syndrome

- No diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis

- No signs or symptoms of CNS involvement

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- Over 18

Performance status

- WHO 0-2

Life expectancy

- Not specified

Hematopoietic

- Absolute neutrophil count > 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

- AST and ALT ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Bilirubin normal

- Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN

Renal

- Creatinine ≤ 1.25 times ULN

- Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular

- No medically uncontrolled congestive heart failure or angina pectoris

- No uncontrolled hypertension or arrhythmia

- No myocardial infarction within the past year

Other

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- Physically and mentally fit to receive gemcitabine- and cisplatin-containing
chemotherapy

- Physiologically fit to undergo surgery

- No uncontrolled, active infection requiring IV antibiotics

- No history of hypersensitivity to gefitinib or any of its excipients

- No motor or sensory neurotoxicity ≥ grade 2

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

- No prior melanoma, breast cancer, or renal cell cancer

- No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would
preclude study compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy

- No prior chemotherapy for NSCLC

- No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

- No concurrent antiestrogen therapy

- Concurrent replacement steroids and antiemetic steroids allowed

Radiotherapy

- No prior radiotherapy for NSCLC

Surgery

- See Disease Characteristics

- No prior surgery for NSCLC

Other

- More than 1 month since prior and no concurrent investigational agents

- No other prior therapy for NSCLC

- No concurrent CYP3A4 inducers, including any of the following:

- Phenytoin

- Carbamazepine

- Rifampin

- Barbiturates (e.g., phenobarbital)

- Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)

- No concurrent systemic retinoids

- No other concurrent antitumor therapy