DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed unresectable stage IIIA or IIIB non-small cell carcinoma of the lung Adenocarcinoma Squamous cell carcinoma Anaplastic large cell carcinoma Stage IIIA patients must not be candidates for resection after neoadjuvant therapy (unresectable T3N1 or T1-3 primary tumors with metastasis limited to the ipsilateral mediastinal and subcarinal lymph nodes) Mediastinotomy or thoracoscopy required for potentially resectable IIIa disease when ipsilateral mediastinal lymph nodes are less than 2 cm Stage IIIB patients must not have significant pleural effusion (seen on CT scan only OR does not reaccumulate after one thoracentesis and is cytologically negative) Metastases to contralateral mediastinal or supraclavicular nodes allowed Measurable or evaluable disease No distant metastasis or significant pleural effusion

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL SGOT no greater than 2 times normal No liver disease with significant hepatic insufficiency Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Cardiovascular: No cardiac arrhythmia or end stage congestive heart failure Neurologic: No preexisting clinically significant peripheral neuropathy No organic brain syndrome Other: No history of prior or concurrent malignancy in the past 5 years except: Surgically cured basal cell carcinoma of the skin Carcinoma in situ of the cervix Not pregnant Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 weeks after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior systemic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior thoracic radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified