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

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Drugs such as paclitaxel may make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. It is not yet known if combination chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy is more effective with or without paclitaxel in treating unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy with or without paclitaxel in treating patients who have unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer.