OUTLINE: This is an open label study. Patients receive induction therapy comprising paclitaxel IV over 3 hours followed by carboplatin IV over 1 hour on days 1 and 21. Patients then undergo radiotherapy beginning on day 42 (or no later than day 63) daily 5 days a week for 7 weeks. Patients also receive amifostine IV over 15 minutes followed by paclitaxel IV over 3 hours weekly (day 1 each week) concurrently for the duration of radiotherapy. On 2 other days of the week, patients receive amifostine alone preceding thoracic radiotherapy. Patients are followed every 3 months for 1 year and then every 6 months until disease progression or death.