Inclusion Criteria:

• patients with histologically or cytologically proven newly diagnosed small cell lung cancer
• confirmation from the treating radiation oncologist that the patient has limited stage disease (i.e. disease that can be encompassed by radiotherapy portals without exposing patient to excessive risk of radiation lung injury)
• adequate pulmonary function tests (FEV-1 >1.0, DLCO >50%)
• patients of childbearing potential must practice adequate contraception
• age greater than 18 years
• Karnofsky performance status greater than 70
• adequate hemotologic, hepatic and renal function: Hb>100g/L, WBC > 4.0x109/L, neutrophils > 1.0x109/L, platelets > 100,000x109/L, calculated GFR based on Cockcroft-Gault formula of >60mL/min (NOTE: for cisplatin, GFR must be above 60ml/min; if less than 60ml/min the patient can not receive cisplatin but could be considered for carboplatin)
• patients must sign a study specific informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

• patient who have undergone complete or subtotal tumour resection
• evidence of non-small cell histology
• pericardial or pleural effusion on radiologic investigations regardless of cytology
• patients cannot be treated with 3DCRT with adherence to the dose volume constraints
• prior or concurrent malignancy except non-melanomatous skin cancer unless disease-free for at least 5 years
• prior radiotherapy to the thorax or neck
• prior chemotherapy
• patients with myocardial infarction within the preceding 6 months or symptomatic heart disease, including angina, congestive heart failure, uncontrolled arrhythmias
• compromised lung function with inadequate pulmonary function tests (FEV-1<1.0, DLCO <50%)
• pregnancy (patients with childbearing potential must practice appropriate contraception)
• patients who have not had the pre-treatment evaluations outlined in the protocol