Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven non-small cell lung cancer of the following
histologic types: Squamous cell carcinoma Adenocarcinoma Undifferentiated large cell
carcinoma Not otherwise specified (i.e., diagnosis by cytology alone) Unresectable stage
I, II, or III disease Measurable lesion Primary and nodal lesions encompassable within
radiotherapy fields No positive supraclavicular lymph nodes (stage N3) No massive
atelectasis No complete remission if treated with chemotherapy Prior cisplatin,
vinblastine, etoposide, paclitaxel, carboplatin, or vinorelbine allowed All chemotherapy
delivered within 4 months of entry No pleural effusion with positive cytology Other
pleural effusions eligible with following requirements: Present prior to mediastinoscopy
or exploratory thoracotomy Transudate cytologically negative on 2 separate thoracenteses
OR Present after mediastinoscopy or exploratory thoracotomy Either transudate or exudate
with negative cytology on thoracentesis OR Present only on CT and not on chest x-ray Too
small to tap under CT or ultrasound guidance Ineligible for treatment on RTOG phase III
studies

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100%
Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Other: No second
malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanomatous skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior biologic response modifier therapy
Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 6 months since prior bleomycin,
mitomycin, doxorubicin, or cyclophosphamide No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy:
Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior thoracic irradiation Surgery: Ineligible for
definitive surgery