DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed limited stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

• No malignant pericardial or pleural effusions, including any of the following:

  • Cytologically positive effusions
  • Exudative effusions not attributable to other etiologies
• No brain metastases
• Disease (measurable or non-measurable) must be present outside the area of prior surgical resection

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT or SGPT no greater than 2 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than ULN OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No symptomatic sensory neuropathy grade 1 or greater
• No other malignancy within past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other stage I or II cancer in complete remission
• No other medical illness that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No prior biologic therapy for SCLC

Chemotherapy:

• No prior systemic chemotherapy for SCLC

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• No prior thoracic radiotherapy for SCLC

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 2 weeks since prior thoracic or other major surgery and recovered