Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy With or Without Gefitinib in Treating Patients With Stage IIIA or Stage IIIB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer * Stage IIIA (T1-3, N2) * Positive (pathological) ipsilateral mediastinal node * Selective stage IIIB meeting all of the following criteria: * No pleural/pericardial effusion or superior vena cava syndrome * T4 due to invasion of carina, trachea, or mediastinal structures * Mediastinal N3 nodes (without supraclavicular or cervical adenopathy) * Proof of N2 or N3 status requires surgical staging of the mediastinum (mediastinoscopy, mediastinotomy, or exploration) * Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (at least 1+) by immunohistochemistry * Measurable disease by contrast CT scan allowed * No bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma * No prior diagnosis of lung cancer PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 19 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-1 (0-2 if albumin is at least 0.85 times lower limit of normal and weight loss within 3 months before diagnosis is no greater than 10%) Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 150,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin normal * AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase between 1.5-2 times ULN requires a negative bone scan for metastatic bone disease Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.4 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiac * No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months * No active angina * No unstable heart rhythms * No congestive heart failure Pulmonary * Post-resection predicted FEV\_1% greater than 35% * Predicted FEV\_1% is defined as FEV\_1% times percent perfusion to uninvolved lung from quantitative lung V/Q scan report Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 6 weeks after study treatment * No other uncontrolled medical illness * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy * No concurrent ocular inflammation or infection * No prior severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 * No known severe hypersensitivity reaction to gefitinib or any of its excipients * No prior severe allergic reaction to platinum-containing compounds or mannitol PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No concurrent growth factors (e.g., filgrastim \[G-CSF\] or sargramostim \[GM-CSF\]) during chemotherapy Chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy for lung cancer Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy for lung cancer Surgery * Recovered from prior major surgery * No concurrent ophthalmic surgery Other * More than 30 days since prior unapproved or investigational drugs * No concurrent use of the following drugs: * Phenytoin * Carbamazepine * Barbiturates * Rifampin * Phenobarbital * Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort) * Warfarin * No concurrent retinoids