OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are randomized to one of three treatment arms. Arm I: Patients receive paclitaxel IV over 3 hours and carboplatin IV over 30 minutes on day 1 every 3 weeks for 2 courses, followed by radiotherapy 5 times a week for 7 weeks beginning on day 42. Arm II: Patients receive paclitaxel and carboplatin as in arm I followed by radiotherapy 5 times a week, paclitaxel IV over 1 hour, and carboplatin IV over 30 minutes weekly for 7 weeks beginning on day 42. Arm III: Patients receive paclitaxel IV over 1 hour and carboplatin IV over 30 minutes weekly and radiotherapy 5 times a week for 7 weeks beginning on day 1, followed by paclitaxel IV over 3 hours and carboplatin IV over 30 minutes every 3 weeks for 2 courses beginning 3 weeks after concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years, every 4 months for 2 years, and then annually thereafter.