Carboplatin, Paclitaxel, Selenomethionine, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including any of the following histologic subtypes: * Squamous cell carcinoma * Adenocarcinoma (including bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma) * Large cell anaplastic carcinoma (including giant and clear cell carcinoma) * Stage IIIA disease OR selected stage IIIB disease * T1-2, N2 disease OR T3, N2 or T4, N0-N2 disease (if based on tumor closeness to the carina, invasion of the mediastinum, or invasion of the chest wall) * Contralateral mediastinal disease (N3) allowed if all gross disease can be encompassed in the radiation boost field * Tumors adjacent to a vertebral body allowed unless there is demonstrable bone invasion * All gross disease must be able to be encompassed in the radiation boost field * No direct invasion of a vertebrae body * Unresectable or inoperable disease * Measurable disease * Suitable for radiotherapy, as deemed by the radiation oncologist * No scalene, supraclavicular, or contralateral hilar node involvement * Pleural effusion allowed provided it is transudate, cytologically negative, and non-bloody, and, according to the radiation oncologist, the tumor can be encompassed within a reasonable radiation field * Pleural effusion seen on chest CT scan, but not on chest x-ray, that is too small to tap is allowed * No exudative, bloody, or cytologically malignant effusions * No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-1 * ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm³ * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * Creatinine normal * Alkaline phosphatase AND AST or ALT meeting 1 of the following criteria: * Alkaline phosphatase normal AND AST or ALT ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN AND AST or ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 5 times ULN AND AST or ALT normal * Able to swallow oral medications * No peripheral neuropathy \> grade 1 * No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to selenomethionine or agents formulated with Cremophor EL * No concurrent uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to, any of the following: * Ongoing or active infection * Symptomatic congestive heart failure * Unstable angina pectoris * Clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia * Psychiatric illness or social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * No currently active second malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancer * Patients are considered not to have an active malignancy if they have completed therapy and are considered by their physician to be at less than 30% risk of relapse * Not pregnant * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * At least 2 weeks since prior formal exploratory thoracotomy (N2 node identified making patient ineligible for surgery) * No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for NSCLC * No prior taxanes or platinum drugs * No other concurrent investigational agents or anticancer therapy * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent chemotherapy or hormonal therapy, except for the following: * Steroids administered for adrenal failure or septic shock * Hormones administered for non-disease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes) * Glucocorticosteroids administered as antiemetics