A Phase II Trial of Concurrent Carboplatin/VP-16 and Radiation Followed by Paclitaxel (Taxol) for Poor-Risk Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Study start date: February 1, 1998

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed newly diagnosed single primary bronchogenic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Stage IIIA (T1-2 N2 M0; T3 N0-2 M0) or IIIB (T4 or N3 M0, excluding malignant pleural effusion) Following NSCLC cellular types are eligible: adenocarcinoma large cell carcinoma squamous cell carcinoma unspecified Histology or cytology from involved mediastinal or supraclavicular nodes are sufficient for diagnosis if a separate primary lesion of the lung parenchyma is clearly evident on radiographs Radiographic evidence of mediastinal lymph nodes of at least 1.5 cm in the largest diameter is sufficient to stage N2 or N3 If the largest mediastinal nodes are less than 1.5 cm in diameter and this is the basis for stage III disease, then at least one of the nodes has to be proven positive cytologically or histologically No bronchioloalveolar carcinoma or stage IIIB tumor involving the superior sulcus Patients must meet at least one of the following conditions: - FEV1 less than 2 liters and predicted FEV1 of the contralateral lung no greater than 800 mL based on the quantitative split function testing - Creatinine clearance less than 50 mL/min - Significant clinical hearing loss and unwilling to accept the potential for worsening due to cisplatin - Controlled congestive heart failure that, in the opinion of the investigator, may become decompensated due to excessive hydration prior to cisplatin administration - SWOG performance status 2 and either albumin less than 0.85 times upper limit of normal or weight loss of greater than 10% due to tumor Measurable or evaluable disease Patients with pleural effusion are eligible only if: - pleural fluid must be a transudate with negative cytology if present before mediastinoscopy or exploratory thoracotomy - pleural fluid can be either transudate or exudate with negative cytology if present only after exploratory or staging thoracotomy but not before - in any case, pleural effusion is present only on CT scan but not on decubitus chest x-ray, and it is deemed too small to tap under either CT or ultrasound guidance PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: SWOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,500/mm3 Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,200/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal SGOT no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine clearance at least 20 mL/min Cardiovascular: No unstable congestive heart failure No active angina No unstable cardiac arrhythmias Pulmonary: FEV1 at least 1.0 liter Also See Disease Characteristics Other: No uncontrolled peptic ulcer disease No active infection No prior malignancy except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, or other cancer for which the patient has been disease free for 5 years Not pregnant or nursing Adequate contraception required of all fertile patients PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior radiation for lung cancer Surgery: No prior surgery for lung cancer