Photodynamic Therapy Using HPPH in Treating Patients With Stage 0 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Biopsy confirmed carcinoma in situ (CIS) or microinvasive bronchogenic non-small cell lung carcinoma

May have squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, or large cell carcinoma histology

Stage 0 (CIS or microinvasive) disease, meeting all of the following criteria:

Lesion must be radiographically occult and not definable by conventional CT scan of the chest
Lesion may or may not be invisible on white light bronchoscopy, but is definable and photographable on laser-induced fluorescence emission (LIFE) bronchoscopy
Biopsy of the lesion must indicate no evidence of invasion beyond cartilage on histopathology, but may be invasive through the basement membrane (microinvasive carcinoma)
No evidence of major pulmonary vessel encasement on CT scan of the chest

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Karnofsky performance status (PS) 50-100% OR ECOG PS 0-2
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
WBC ≥ 4,000/mm^3
Prothrombin time ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Total bilirubin ≤ 3.0 mg/dL
Creatinine ≤ 3.0 mg/dL
Alkaline phosphatase (hepatic) or SGOT ≤ 3 times ULN
No porphyria or hypersensitivity to porphyrin or porphyrin-like compounds
No severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, that in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude multiple bronchoscopies or partial central airway obstruction from mucous/debris formation
Patients with underlying lung disease must be judged (by the principal investigator) able to withstand mucous or debris formation at the site of treatment
No contraindications for bronchoscopy
Not pregnant
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

More than 4 weeks since prior and no concurrent chemotherapy or radiotherapy
Prior therapy of any type (e.g., chemotherapy or radiotherapy) allowed for lung cancer