Ultraviolet Light Therapy Using Methoxsalen With or Without Bexarotene in Treating Patients With Mycosis Fungoides

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed mycosis fungoides * Stage IB or IIA * Confirmed by current or prior diagnostic lesion biopsy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * Over 18 Performance status * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * WBC at least 2,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal * Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN * Calcium no greater than 11.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular * No New York Heart Association grade III or IV cardiac insufficiency Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 3 months after study participation\* NOTE: \*Women using hormonal contraception must also use a non-hormonal treatment * Fasting triglycerides normal (prior antilipemic agents allowed to reach normalization) * Willing and able to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun * Willing to limit sun exposure on day of PUVA therapy * No prior intolerance of or unresponsiveness to PUVA therapy * No other prior or concurrent malignant tumor except adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * No prior pancreatitis * No other concurrent serious illness or infection that would preclude study participation * No concurrent excessive alcohol consumption * No photosensitivity due to intrinsic (e.g., lupus) or extrinsic (e.g., photosensitive drugs) factors * No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude study compliance * No known contraindications to study drug * No known hypersensitivity to retinoids or hypervitaminosis A * No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus * No uncontrolled thyroid disease PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * At least 3 months since prior interferon therapy Chemotherapy * No prior systemic combination chemotherapy * No prior participation in another study of bexarotene * At least 3 months since prior topical chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * At least 1 month since prior topical corticosteroids Radiotherapy * At least 6 months since prior total skin electron beam therapy * At least 1 month since prior superficial radiotherapy Surgery * Not specified Other * At least 30 days since prior participation in another investigational drug study * At least 3 months since prior photopheresis * At least 1 month since prior UVB/PUVA phototherapy * At least 1 month since prior retinoid class drugs * At least 1 month since prior beta-carotene compounds * At least 1 month since other prior topical medications (e.g., tar baths) * No prior participation in this study * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No other concurrent investigational drug therapy * No concurrent drugs associated with pancreatic toxicity or known to increase triglyceride concentrations