Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed limited stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

- No malignant pericardial or pleural effusions, including any of the following:

- Cytologically positive effusions

- Exudative effusions not attributable to other etiologies

- No brain metastases

- Disease (measurable or non-measurable) must be present outside the area of prior
surgical resection

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- SGOT or SGPT no greater than 2 times ULN

- Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than ULN OR

- Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No symptomatic sensory neuropathy grade 1 or greater

- No other malignancy within past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or
squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other stage I or II
cancer in complete remission

- No other medical illness that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- No prior biologic therapy for SCLC

Chemotherapy:

- No prior systemic chemotherapy for SCLC

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- No prior thoracic radiotherapy for SCLC

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 2 weeks since prior thoracic or other major surgery and recovered