Photodynamic Therapy During Surgery in Treating Patients With Pleural Malignancy

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES; I. To determine the feasibility and toxicities of incorporating surgical resection and intra-operative Photofrin (porfimer sodium)-mediated photodynamic therapy in patients (pts) with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with pleural spread. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the overall survival rate of pts with NSCLC and pleural spread treated with standard frontline chemotherapy followed by surgical resection and intra-operative Photofrin-mediated photodynamic therapy. II. To determine the overall survival rate of pts with MPM after radical pleurectomy and intraoperative Photofrin-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT). III. To determine the progression-free survival and pleural progression-free survival in the above mentioned pts. IV. To determine the absolute Photofrin levels in tumor and normal tissues resected from pts using spectrofluorometric assay. Photofrin levels in tumor to normal tissue ratios will be determined. OUTLINE: Patients receive porfimer sodium intravenously (IV) over 3-5 minutes. Beginning 24 hours later, patients undergo tumor resection and/or radical pleurectomy followed by intraoperative PDT to the pleural space. After completion of treatment, patients are followed up at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 months.