Thirty-three evaluable patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung were entered in a phase II study combining chemotherapy (vindesine, lomustine, cisplatin, and cyclophosphamide) and radical radiotherapy. Fourteen patients had an objective response rate of 42% (two complete responses and 12 partial responses) with the first two cycles of chemotherapy. All patients received radiation therapy to the primary tumor, mediastinum, and supraclavicular nodes, and responders to chemotherapy received four additional cycles. On final evaluation, 18 patients (54.5%) achieved complete response and six patients (18%) achieved partial response. The objective response rate was 73% with the combined therapy. The median survival was 15.9 months. Toxicity was acceptable. We conclude that our results justify a phase III study comparing combined treatment versus radiotherapy alone.