S9900: Surgery With or Without Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically proven non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), meeting 1 of the following staging criteria: * Stage IB (T2, N0) * Stage II * T1-2, N1 with negative mediastinoscopy OR * T3, N0 * Selected stage IIIA with negative mediastinoscopies * T3, N1, excluding superior sulcus * Positive level 10 hilar nodes allowed if mediastinoscopy negative * Apical tumors with no clinical symptoms allowed * No symptomatic tumors (T3, N0 or T3, N1) involving the superior sulcus * No Pancoast's tumors * Negative mediastinoscopy required in all patients with clinically positive mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes to ensure no N2 disease * Bidimensionally measurable or evaluable disease by chest x-ray or contrast-enhanced CT scan * T3, N0 disease assessable only by bronchoscopy must be affirmed by 2 observers and documented by photograph that includes main carina PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Zubrod 0 or 1 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * WBC at least 4,000/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 1.5 times ULN * Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Pulmonary: * See Disease Characteristics * Preresection FEV\_1 greater than 2.0 L OR * Predicted postresection FEV\_1 greater than 1.0 L * No postobstructive pneumonia Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No serious infection * No other serious medical condition that would preclude study compliance * No prior allergic reactions to drugs containing Cremophor * No prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * No prior systemic chemotherapy for NSCLC * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * No prior systemic radiotherapy for NSCLC * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * At least 5 years since prior resection of lung disease Other: * No other concurrent investigational therapy * No other concurrent anticancer therapy