S0004: Combination Chemotherapy Plus Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Limited-stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed limited stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
* No malignant pericardial or pleural effusions, including any of the following:

  * Cytologically positive effusions
  * Exudative effusions not attributable to other etiologies
* No brain metastases
* Disease (measurable or non-measurable) must be present outside the area of prior surgical resection

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* SGOT or SGPT no greater than 2 times ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than ULN OR
* Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No symptomatic sensory neuropathy grade 1 or greater
* No other malignancy within past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other stage I or II cancer in complete remission
* No other medical illness that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No prior biologic therapy for SCLC

Chemotherapy:

* No prior systemic chemotherapy for SCLC

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* No prior thoracic radiotherapy for SCLC

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 2 weeks since prior thoracic or other major surgery and recovered