Carboplatin, Irinotecan, and Radiation Therapy Followed By Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

  * Stage IIIA or IIIB disease
* Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion \> 20 mm by conventional techniques or \> 10 mm by spiral CT scan
* No clinically significant malignant pleural or pericardial effusion (i.e., stage IIIB wet disease)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status 0-1
* Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,500/mm³
* Platelet count \> 100,000/mm³
* Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL
* Bilirubin normal
* Alkaline phosphatase (AP), AST, and ALT meeting 1 of the following criteria:

  * AP normal AND AST or ALT ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
  * AP ≤ 2.5 times ULN AND AST or ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN
  * AP ≤ 5 times ULN AND AST or ALT normal
* Creatinine \< 2.0 times ULN
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 3 months after completion of study treatment
* No New York Heart Association class III-IV heart disease
* No history of serious cardiac disease not adequately controlled
* No documented myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
* No congestive heart failure
* No unstable angina
* No clinically significant arrhythmia
* No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to drugs formulated with polysorbate 80
* No peripheral neuropathy \> grade 1
* No other malignancy within the past 5 years other than skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* More than 3 weeks since prior major surgery
* No prior systemic chemotherapy, thoracic radiotherapy, or surgical resection for NSCLC