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