S0429: Docetaxel, Cetuximab, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically proven newly diagnosed single, primary, bronchogenic stage IIIA or selected stage IIIB (excluding malignant pleural effusion) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of one of the following cellular types:

  * Adenocarcinoma
  * Large cell carcinoma
  * Squamous cell carcinoma
  * Unspecified
* Histology or cytology from involved mediastinal or supraclavicular nodes will be sufficient for diagnosis if a separate primary lesion of the lung parenchyma is clearly evident on radiographs (i.e., a second biopsy will not be required)
* Underwent positron emission tomography (PET) scan within the past 42 days

  * N2 or N3 mediastinal disease by PET scan OR enlarged nodes on CT scan determined to be N2 or N3 by biopsy
* Measurable disease, defined as lesions that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension as ≥ 2 cm by conventional techniques or ≥ 1 cm by spiral CT scan

  * Pleural effusion, ascites, bone lesions, and laboratory parameters are not considered measurable disease
* No brain metastases
* Malignant pleural effusion allowed provided 1 of the following is true:

  * Present before mediastinoscopy or exploratory thoracotomy AND the pleural fluid is transudate with negative cytology
  * Present only after but not before exploratory or staging thoracotomy AND the pleural fluid is either transudate or exudate with negative cytology
  * Present only on CT scan but not on decubitus chest x-ray AND deemed too small to tap under either CT scan or ultrasound guidance

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Zubrod performance status 0-1, meeting ≥ 1 of the following criteria OR Zubrod performance status 2 with no co-morbidities or meeting 1 of the following criteria:

  * No co-morbidities
  * FEV\_1 \< 2 L OR \< 1 L with estimated contralateral FEV\_1 ≥ 0.6 L
  * DLCO \> 10 mL/mm Hg/min
  * Albumin \< 0.85 times lower limit of normal
  * Unintentional weight loss \> 10% within the past 6 months
  * Controlled congestive heart failure which, in the opinion of the investigator, may become decompensated due to radiotherapy
* FEV\_1 \< 2 L OR \< 1 L with estimated contralateral FEV\_1 ≥ 0.6 L
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
* Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Must provide prior smoking history
* Serum bilirubin normal
* Meets one of the following criteria:

  * Alkaline phosphatase (AP) ≤ 4 times ULN AND SGOT or SGPT normal
  * AP normal AND SGOT or SGPT ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, or adequately treated stage I or II cancer from which the patient is currently in complete remission
* No pregnant or nursing patients
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* No prior chemotherapy or curative surgery for this cancer
* No prior radiotherapy to the neck and/or thorax for any reason
* No prior therapy which specifically targets the EGFR pathway
* No concurrent growth factors (e.g., filgrastim \[G-CSF\], epoetin alfa, or pegfilgrastim) or amifostine
* No concurrent intensity-modulated radiotherapy
* No concurrent prophylactic mediastinal, contralateral hilar, or supraclavicular lymph node radiotherapy