Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy Versus Chemotherapy Alone in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients With Mediastinal Lymph Node Metastases

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically proven NSCLC with nodal metastases: T1-3N2M0 * Performance status 0-1 * Patient medically fit enough for protocol therapy, including operability * Age 18-75 * Written informed consent * No previous chemo- or radiotherapy Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with prior or concomitant malignancies Allowed are: non-melanomatous skin cancer, adequately treated in situ cervical cancer or any other neoplastic diseases with disease-free interval ³ 5 years. * Presence or history of any distant metastasis * Unstable cardiac disease requiring treatment, congestive heart failure or angina pectoris even if medically controlled, significant arrhythmia, or prior history of myocardial infarction in the last 3 months * History of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorders including psychotic disorders, dementia or seizures that would prohibit the understanding and giving of informed consent * Active uncontrolled infection * Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus * Gastric ulcers * Preexisting peripheral neuropathy (\> grade 1) * Other serious underlying medical condition which could impair the ability of the patient to participate in the trial * Concurrent treatment with other experimental drugs * Pretreatment with any other cytostatic therapy * Previous radiotherapy to the chest * Concurrent treatment with prednisone (or equivalent) except: for the prophylactic medication regimen before treatment, treatment of acute hypersensitivity reactions or chronic treatment (initiated \> 6 months prior to trial entry) at low dose (£ 20 mg methylprednisolone or equivalent) * Definite contraindications for the use of corticosteroids as premedication * Treatment within a clinical trial within 30 days prior to trial entry * Socioeconomic or geographic circumstances that may prohibit proper staging, treatment or follow-up procedures * Pregnancy, lactation period