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