• Toxicity [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  
• Tumor response [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• To determine the maximum tolerated dose of laser light therapy using a fixed dose of HPPH in patients with dysplasia, squamous cell carcinoma in situ, or T1 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Secondary

• To determine response in patients treated with this regimen.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of laser light therapy.

Patients undergo photodynamic therapy comprising HPPH IV over 1 hour on day 1 and laser light therapy to the tumor on day 2. Approximately 8 weeks later, patients with a partial response, no response, or a geographical miss may receive a second course of treatment.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and then periodically thereafter.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Biopsy-confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following:

  • Mild to severe dysplasia of the larynx

    • Dysplastic lesions ≤ 3 mm in thickness

  • Squamous cell carcinoma in situ of the larynx

    • No exophytic carcinoma in situ

  • T1 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx

    • Tumor ≤ 3 mm in thickness
    • No T2-T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx
• Newly diagnosed or recurrent disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-2
• Total bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
• Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
• SGOT ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 3 times ULN
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3-6 months after completion of study treatment
• No porphyria
• No hypersensitivity to porphyrin or porphyrin-like compounds

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Any prior therapy allowed
• At least 4 weeks since prior and no concurrent chemotherapy or radiotherapy