OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation study. Patients undergo radiotherapy to the tumor and lymph nodes, followed by a decrease in radiotherapy to the tumor alone. Radiation therapy is administered for a total of 5.5 weeks. Patients receive intravenous gemcitabine twice weekly on Tuesday and Friday over the first 3 weeks of radiotherapy. Cisplatin is administered intravenously twice weekly following gemcitabine therapy. Three patients are treated at each dose level. Dose escalation does not occur until all patients at a given dose level have completed radiotherapy and returned for a 4 week follow up. The dose limiting toxicity (DLT) is defined as the dose at which at least 2 of 6 patients experience unacceptable toxic effects. The maximum tolerated dose is defined as the dose at which no more than 1 of 6 patients experiences DLT. Patients exhibiting stable disease remain on therapy until disease progression or intolerable toxic effects. Patients experiencing toxic effects and no disease progression are retreated at a lower dose. Patients are followed every 3 months for the first 2 years then every 6 months for the next year.