Combination Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
• * Stage IIIA (N2) or IIIB disease
• * Pathologic documentation of N2-3 mediastinal lymph nodes is encouraged but not required if nodal size is ≥ 1.5 cm in largest diameter
• * No stage IIIB disease with malignant pleural effusion or superior sulcus tumor
• At least one measurable lesion as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors
• Unresectable disease
• No known brain metastasis
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• ECOG performance status 0-2
• Life expectancy \> 3 months
• ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL (can be corrected by transfusion)
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Creatinine \< 1.5 mg/dL
• Total bilirubin \< 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Transaminases \< 3 times ULN
• Patient compliance and geographic proximity that allow adequate follow up
• No serious, uncontrolled systemic intercurrent illness (e.g., infections or poorly controlled diabetes)
• No history of significant neurological or mental disorder, including seizures or dementia
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No active cardiac disease not controlled by therapy
• No myocardial infarction within the past 12 months
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for NSCLC
• No other concurrent systemic chemotherapy, investigational drug, or radiotherapy