Carboplatin, Paclitaxel, Selenomethionine, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including any of the following histologic subtypes:

  * Squamous cell carcinoma
  * Adenocarcinoma (including bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma)
  * Large cell anaplastic carcinoma (including giant and clear cell carcinoma)
* Stage IIIA disease OR selected stage IIIB disease

  * T1-2, N2 disease OR T3, N2 or T4, N0-N2 disease (if based on tumor closeness to the carina, invasion of the mediastinum, or invasion of the chest wall)

    * Contralateral mediastinal disease (N3) allowed if all gross disease can be encompassed in the radiation boost field
* Tumors adjacent to a vertebral body allowed unless there is demonstrable bone invasion

  * All gross disease must be able to be encompassed in the radiation boost field
  * No direct invasion of a vertebrae body
* Unresectable or inoperable disease
* Measurable disease
* Suitable for radiotherapy, as deemed by the radiation oncologist
* No scalene, supraclavicular, or contralateral hilar node involvement
* Pleural effusion allowed provided it is transudate, cytologically negative, and non-bloody, and, according to the radiation oncologist, the tumor can be encompassed within a reasonable radiation field

  * Pleural effusion seen on chest CT scan, but not on chest x-ray, that is too small to tap is allowed
  * No exudative, bloody, or cytologically malignant effusions
* No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status 0-1
* ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³
* Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm³
* Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
* Creatinine normal
* Alkaline phosphatase AND AST or ALT meeting 1 of the following criteria:

  * Alkaline phosphatase normal AND AST or ALT ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
  * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN AND AST or ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN
  * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 5 times ULN AND AST or ALT normal
* Able to swallow oral medications
* No peripheral neuropathy \> grade 1
* No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to selenomethionine or agents formulated with Cremophor EL
* No concurrent uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:

  * Ongoing or active infection
  * Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  * Unstable angina pectoris
  * Clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia
  * Psychiatric illness or social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
* No currently "active" second malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancer

  * Patients are considered not to have an "active" malignancy if they have completed therapy and are considered by their physician to be at less than 30% risk of relapse
* Not pregnant
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* At least 2 weeks since prior formal exploratory thoracotomy (N2 node identified making patient ineligible for surgery)
* No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for NSCLC
* No prior taxanes or platinum drugs
* No other concurrent investigational agents or anticancer therapy
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* No other concurrent chemotherapy or hormonal therapy, except for the following:

  * Steroids administered for adrenal failure or septic shock
  * Hormones administered for non-disease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
  * Glucocorticosteroids administered as antiemetics