RATIONALE: Amifostine may be an effective treatment for the toxic side effects caused by radiation therapy and chemotherapy. It is not yet known whether chemotherapy and radiation therapy are more effective with or without amifostine for non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to determine the effectiveness of amifostine in treating patients who have stage II or stage III non-small cell lung cancer that cannot be surgically removed and who are undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate whether the addition of the radioprotector amifostine can reduce the incidence and severity of non-hematologic toxicity, specifically esophagitis and pneumonitis, during concurrent hyperfractionated radiotherapy and chemotherapy (with paclitaxel and carboplatin) in patients with stage II, IIIA, or IIIB non-small cell lung cancer. II. Evaluate the differences in quality of life and symptom distress, specifically dysphagia, between patients receiving amifostine and those not receiving amifostine. III. Evaluate the relationship of tobacco use and alcohol use during treatment to appraisals of quality of life and symptom distress, specifically esophagitis, in the two groups. IV. Evaluate the efficacy of induction therapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin followed by concurrent chemotherapy and hyperfractionated radiotherapy in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is an open-label treatment and randomized supportive care study. Patients are stratified according to disease stage (II vs IIIA vs IIIB), Karnofsky performance status (90-100% vs 70-80%), and age (70 and under vs over 70). Patients are randomized to one of two treatment arms. Arm I: Patients receive paclitaxel IV over 3 hours on days 1 and 22 and over 1 hour weekly for 6 weeks beginning on day 43. Patients receive carboplatin IV over 30 minutes immediately after each paclitaxel dose. Patients receive filgrastim (G-CSF) subcutaneously for 10-14 days after each of the first two paclitaxel and carboplatin doses. Radiotherapy begins on day 43 and is administered twice daily for 5 days per week for 6 weeks. Beginning on day 43, patients receive amifostine IV over 5-7 minutes 4 days a week for 6 weeks. Arm II: Patients receive treatment as in arm I without amifostine. Quality of life is assessed at baseline, before chemoradiation (after 2 courses of induction chemotherapy), the last week of chemoradiation (week 6), and at the 6-week follow-up visit. Patients are followed at 1 month, every 3 months for 1 year, every 6 months for 2 years, and then annually thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 244 patients (122 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study within 38 months.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed unresectable stage II, IIIA, or IIIB non-small cell lung cancer No distant metastases No prior complete (or gross subtotal) tumor resection No post-resection intrathoracic tumor recurrence Pleural effusion seen on a chest x-ray allowed only if appearing after thoracotomy or other invasive thoracic procedure (pleural effusion acceptable if seen only on CT scan, not on chest x-ray) Must be ineligible or refused participation in protocol RTOG-9309

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute granulocyte count at least 2,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 8.0 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL* SGOT no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal* * Unless due to documented benign disease Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No symptomatic heart disease, including angina, congestive heart failure, or uncontrolled arrhythmias Other: No weight loss of greater than 5% in 3 months prior to diagnosis No other prior or concurrent invasive malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanomatous skin cancer Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior thoracic or neck radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics