Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed small cell lung cancer by one of two
methods:

- Fine needle aspiration biopsy

- Two positive sputa

- Must have limited disease as defined by all of the following:

- Stage I-IIIB

- Confined to 1 hemithorax

- No T4 tumor based on malignant pleural or pericardial effusion

- Patients with pleural effusion too small to tap under CT guidance and not
evident on chest x-ray are allowed

- No N3 disease based on contralateral hilar or contralateral supraclavicular
involvement

- Measurable or evaluable disease

- Tumor must be able to be encompassed by specified radiotherapy fields without
unacceptable risk of serious pulmonary compromise

- No complete tumor resection

- No pericardial effusion (regardless of cytology)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- 18 and over

Performance status

- Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy

- Not specified

Hematopoietic

- Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 120,000/mm^3

Hepatic

- Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

- No known Gilbert's disease

Renal

- Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

- No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

- No symptomatic heart disease

Pulmonary

- FEV_1 at least 1.0 L/sec

- No uncontrolled bronchospasms

- No uncompensated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Other

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or greater

- No other malignancy within the past 2 years except curatively treated basal or
squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the bladder or cervix

- No other concurrent serious medical illness

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- No prior biologic therapy

Chemotherapy

- No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

- Not specified

Radiotherapy

- No prior radiotherapy

- No concurrent intensity-modulated radiotherapy

Surgery

- See Disease Characteristics

Other

- At least 7 days since prior enzyme-inducing anti-convulsant drugs (EIACDs) (e.g.,
phenytoin, carbamazepine, or phenobarbital) if used on a regular basis for more than
2 weeks

- Less than 2 weeks of regular use of EIACDs does not require a 7-day wash-out
period

- At least 14 days since prior Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)

- No concurrent EIACDs

- No concurrent amifostine during chemoradiotherapy

- Concurrent gabapentin or other non-EIACDs allowed