Erlotinib, Paclitaxel, and Carboplatin Combined With Radiation Therapy for Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer * Surgically determined stage IIIA or IIIB disease * Histology from an involved mediastinal or supraclavicular lymph nodes alone will be allowed if a separate distal primary lesion is clearly evident on radiographs * Histological or cytological proof of mediastinal nodal involvement by mediastinoscopy, Chamberlain procedure, thoracoscopy, thoracotomy, or CT-guided biopsy is required except for cases of paralysis of left true vocal cord with separate left lung primary distinct from enlarged nodes \> 1 cm in the anterior-posterior window seen on the CT scan * Patients with N3 or T4 status must be evaluated and deemed potentially resectable after induction chemotherapy and radiation therapy * Measurable and evaluable disease * No malignant pleural effusion except for effusion visible only on CT scan and deemed too small to tap * No pericardial effusion * No small or mixed small cell/non-small cell lung cancer * No massive lesions requiring radiation to the entire lung * No metastatic cancer to the lungs PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-1 * WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3 * Serum creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL * Alkaline phosphatase, AST, and ALT \< 2 times upper limit of normal * Albumin \> 3.0 g/dL * Serum bilirubin \< 1.5 mg/dL * Adequate pulmonary function * No clinical evidence of another uncontrolled malignancy * No requirement for urgent therapy for severe local symptoms such as post-obstructive pneumonia PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No prior chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy for lung cancer * No prior surgery to treat the cancer