Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy With or Without Efaproxiral in Treating Patients With Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer of 1 of the following subtypes: * Adenocarcinoma * Squamous cell carcinoma * Large cell carcinoma * Poorly differentiated carcinoma * Stage IIIA or IIIB * T1 or T2, N2 * T3, N1 or N2 * T4, any N * Any T, N3 * Histological or cytological confirmation of at least 1 positive lymph node required if the largest mediastinal node that is the basis of stage III disease is less than 2.0 cm in diameter * Clinically or radiologically measurable disease of at least 2.0 cm * Partially resected stage IIIB disease allowed provided a measurable lesion remains * No pleural effusion that is bloody, cytologically positive, or re-accumulated after thoracentesis * No metastatic disease by CT scan or MRI PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute granulocyte count at least 2,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular * No clinically active congestive heart failure * No unstable angina * No severe arrhythmia by ECG Pulmonary * FVC and FEV\_1 at least 50% of normal * Resting oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO\_2) at least 90% on room air * Exercise SpO\_2 at least 90% on room air Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile female patients must use effective contraception during and for 30 days after study therapy * Male patients must use effective contraception during and for 90 days after study therapy * No loss of more than 10% of body weight within the past 3 months * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No significantly altered mental status or dementia that would preclude giving informed consent * No active infection * No other serious underlying medical condition that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * More than 28 days since prior biologic therapy * No concurrent colony-stimulating factors (randomized phase only) * No biologic therapy during and for 1 month after study therapy * No immune response modifiers during and for 1 month after study therapy Chemotherapy * No prior systemic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * No hormonal therapy during and for 1 month after study therapy Radiotherapy * No prior thoracic radiotherapy Surgery * See Disease Characteristics * No prior total surgical resection Other * More than 28 days since prior investigational drugs or devices * No prior efaproxiral * No other cytotoxic therapy during and for 1 month after study therapy