Combination Chemotherapy Followed by Radiation Therapy With or Without Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Unresectable Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Locoregionally advanced unresectable disease Previously untreated Measurable disease No involvement of supraclavicular lymph nodes No cytologically positive pleural or pericardial effusion No invasion to the wall of the esophagus or the cardiac ventricle No bone marrow involvement No distant metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 to 70 Performance status: WHO 0-1 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: WBC greater than 4,000/mm^3 Absolute neutrophil count greater than 2,000/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin greater than 10 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin less than upper limit of normal (ULN) AST and ALT less than 2.5 times ULN Alkaline phosphatase less than 5 times ULN No hepatic abnormalities Renal: Creatinine less than ULN Cardiovascular: No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No cardiac insufficiency No uncontrolled arrhythmia Pulmonary: FEV1 greater than 1 L DLCO at least 30% predicted No pneumonia No other non-disease-related pulmonary complications Other: No more than 10% of total weight loss over the past 6 months No other disease that would preclude study No peripheral neuropathy grade 3 or greater No other prior or concurrent malignancy except curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No familial, geographic, or psychological condition that would preclude study Not pregnant or nursing PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior immunotherapy No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: No prior systemic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent endocrine therapy Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy for NSCLC Surgery: See Disease Characteristics No prior complete resection of tumor Prior radical surgical resection allowed if local recurrence of disease No concurrent major surgery Other: No other concurrent anticancer therapy or investigational agents