OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the feasibility of the concurrent chemoradiotherapy regimen of paclitaxel and vinorelbine with standard chest radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. II. Determine the maximum tolerated dose and dose limiting toxicities of this regimen in this patient population. III. Determine the radiologic response rate of induction chemotherapy with carboplatin and gemcitabine in this patient population. IV. Evaluate the pathologic response rate in patients undergoing resection. V. Evaluate the time to progression, overall survival, and quality of life in this patient population.