Specialized Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

This phase I trial studies the side effects and the best dose of hypofractionated radiation therapy when given together with chemotherapy in treating patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer that cannot be removed by surgery. Hypofractionated radiation therapy delivers higher doses of radiation therapy over a shorter period of time and may kill more tumor cells and have fewer side effects. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel and carboplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving hypofractionated radiation therapy together with chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells.