Paclitaxel and Hyperthermic Perfusion in Treating Patients With Lung Cancer or Lung Metastases That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed unresectable primary lung cancer or pulmonary metastases that are unresectable on the basis of technical considerations or are sufficiently numerous that recurrent, potentially inoperable disease is highly probable Bilateral metastases allowed Unresectable bronchoalveolar carcinomas allowed Previously treated primary lung cancer allowed Disease outside confines of thorax allowed, provided bulk of disease in the chest is clearly the greatest threat to survival and/or extrathoracic disease is controlled No potentially treatable pulmonary metastases from lymphomas or germ cell tumors No biopsy proven interstitial fibrosis, radiation induced pneumonitis, or evidence of significant pulmonary hypertension by history, radiologic, echocardiographic, or catheterization studies No active intracranial or leptomeningeal metastases Prior resection or radiotherapy for intracranial metastases allowed if the following criteria are met: No active disease on 2 MRIs done one month apart No requirement for anticonvulsant medications or steroids Adequate pulmonary reserve to tolerate pneumonectomy: Oxygen consumption greater than 50% predicted AND FEV1 and DLCO greater than 80% predicted OR FEV1 or DLCO less than 80% predicted allowed if postoperative FEV1 and DLCO is at least 40% predicted on the basis of split function V/Q scan Prior radiotherapy to chest allowed provided 6 months have elapsed since completion of treatment and no history of, nor current evidence of, interstitial lung disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: More than 3 months Hematopoietic: Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin greater than 10 g/dL WBC greater than 3,500/mm^3 Hepatic: PT/PTT normal Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST/ALT less than 1.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine less than 1.6 mg/dL Cardiovascular: Fixed defects on thallium scanning with ejection fraction greater than 40% allowed Reversible or ischemic defects allowed only after cardiology clearance Pulmonary: See Disease Characteristics Resting oxygen saturation greater than 90% pCO_2 less than 45 mmHg by arterial blood gas Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No active infections HIV negative PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: More than 30 days since prior biologic therapy for this malignancy Chemotherapy: More than 30 days since prior chemotherapy for this malignancy Prior paclitaxel allowed No prior bleomycin, nitrosoureas, or busulfan Endocrine therapy: See Disease Characteristics Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Prior thoracic surgery allowed