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