Gefitinib, Docetaxel, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including any of the following: Squamous cell carcinoma Adenocarcinoma (including bronchoalveolar cell) Large cell anaplastic carcinoma (including giant and clear cell carcinomas) Stage IIIA/B disease Unresectable disease Tumors adjacent to a vertebral body allowed No demonstrable bone invasion All gross disease must be able to be encompassed in the radiation boost field in accordance with the homogeneity criteria Contralateral mediastinal disease (N3) allowed if all gross disease can be encompassed in the radiation boost field in accordance with the homogeneity criteria No scalene, supraclavicular, or contralateral hilar node involvement Pleural effusion allowed if it is transudate, cytologically negative, and non-bloody AND tumor can be encompassed within a reasonable field of radiotherapy No exudative, bloody, or cytologically malignant effusions Pleural effusion seen on chest CT scan but not on chest x-ray and too small to tap allowed Measurable disease, defined as lesions that can be accurately measured in ≥ 1 dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as ≥ 20 mm with conventional techniques or as ≥ 10 mm with spiral CT scan No nonmeasurable disease, including any of the following: Bone lesions Leptomeningeal disease Ascites Pleural/pericardial effusion Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques Cystic lesions Tumor lesions situated in a previously irradiated area PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: ECOG performance status 0-1 Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 Hemoglobin > 8.0 g/dL Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 Bilirubin < 1.5 mg/dL Creatinine < 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Meets 1 of the following criteria: AST and ALT < 2 times ULN AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN AND alkaline phosphatase (AP) normal AST and ALT normal AND AP ≤ 4 times ULN FEV_1 ≥ 1.2 L No other currently active malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancers Patients are not considered to have another currently active malignancy if they have completed therapy for the other malignancy and are considered by their physician to be at < 30% risk of relapse (i.e., after treatment for early-stage prostate cancer) Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completing treatment No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 No known severe hypersensitivity to gefitinib or any of the excipients of this product No evidence of severe or uncontrolled systemic disease (e.g., unstable or uncompensated respiratory, cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease) No evidence of any other significant clinical disorder or laboratory finding that would limit compliance with study requirements No evidence of clinically active interstitial lung disease (asymptomatic, chronic stable radiographic changes allowed) No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 1 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: At least 2 weeks since prior formal exploratory thoracotomy No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for NSCLC No prior epidermal growth factor-targeting drugs (i.e., gefitinib, erlotinib, or cetuximab) No other investigational agent within 30 days of study entry No concurrent phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampicin, barbiturates, or Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) No other concurrent hormonal therapy or chemotherapy except for the following: Steroids for adrenal failure, allergic reactions, or septic shock Hormones for nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes) Glucocorticosteroids as anti-emetics