Photodynamic Therapy in Treating Patients With Refractory Mycosis Fungoides

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in refractory tumors and plaques of mycosis fungoides (MF). SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the effects of sequential PDT and radiation therapy (RT). II. To determine the side effect profile of PDT in MF. EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the quality of life during and after treatment. OUTLINE: Patients receive aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride topically and undergo photodynamic therapy on day 1. Treatment repeats every 4 weeks for up to 6 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Beginning at week 24, patients undergo radiation therapy daily for 4 weeks. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for up to 8 weeks.