OUTLINE: This is a radiation dose escalation study. Patients are sequentially accrued to one of four radiation dose levels. Dose level 1: Patients receive radiotherapy 5 days a week for 4 weeks followed by radiation boost given daily for 2 days, then twice daily for 3 days during week 5. (Closed to accrual 6/98) Dose level 2: Patients receive radiotherapy 5 days a week for 4 weeks followed by radiation boost given twice daily for 5 days during week 5. (Closed to accrual 9/24/99) Dose level 3: Patients receive radiotherapy 5 days a week for 18 days followed by radiation boost given in the evenings on days 19 and 20, then twice daily for 5 days during week 5. (Closed to accrual 5/5/00) Dose level 4: Patients receive radiotherapy 5 days a week for 16 days followed by radiation boost given in the evenings on days 17-20, then twice daily for 5 days during week 5. The fifth dose level is the same as the first dose level. (Closed to accrual 3/19/99) Cohorts of 5 patients are entered at each radiation dose level. If one patient experiences nonhematologic dose limiting toxicity (DLT), 5 additional patients are treated at that level. If no further DLT occurs, escalation to the next arm proceeds. Patients receive cisplatin IV plus etoposide IV on day 1 of radiotherapy and oral etoposide on days 2 and 3 every 3 weeks for 4 courses. Patients are followed every 3 months for 1 year, every 6 months for 2 years and then annually thereafter.