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