Combination Chemotherapy Followed by Radiation Therapy With or Without Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Unresectable Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) * Locoregionally advanced unresectable disease * Previously untreated * Measurable disease * No involvement of supraclavicular lymph nodes * No cytologically positive pleural or pericardial effusion * No invasion to the wall of the esophagus or the cardiac ventricle * No bone marrow involvement * No distant metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 to 70 Performance status: * WHO 0-1 Life expectancy: * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: * WBC greater than 4,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count greater than 2,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin greater than 10 g/dL Hepatic: * Bilirubin less than upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and ALT less than 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase less than 5 times ULN * No hepatic abnormalities Renal: * Creatinine less than ULN Cardiovascular: * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No cardiac insufficiency * No uncontrolled arrhythmia Pulmonary: * FEV1 greater than 1 L * DLCO at least 30% predicted * No pneumonia * No other non-disease-related pulmonary complications Other: * No more than 10% of total weight loss over the past 6 months * No other disease that would preclude study * No peripheral neuropathy grade 3 or greater * No other prior or concurrent malignancy except curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No familial, geographic, or psychological condition that would preclude study * Not pregnant or nursing PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No prior immunotherapy * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: * No prior systemic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent endocrine therapy Radiotherapy: * No prior radiotherapy for NSCLC Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior complete resection of tumor * Prior radical surgical resection allowed if local recurrence of disease * No concurrent major surgery Other: * No other concurrent anticancer therapy or investigational agents