Theophylline in Treating Cancer Patients With Shortness of Breath

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically proven diagnosis of cancer FEV-1/FVC at least 80% of predicted OR FEV-1/FVC less than 80% AND improvement in FEV-1 less than 15% after using a bronchodilator Maximum inspiratory pressure no greater than -50 cm of water Oximetry at least 90% Rating of dyspnea "moderate" or "severe" on verbal rating scale (VRS) of "none, mild, moderate, or severe" to describe "usual breathlessness" when walking over the past 24 hours Score for pain of "none" or "mild" on a VRS of "none, mild, moderate, or severe" for "unusual pain" over the past 24 hours PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 16 and over Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Greater than 10 days Hematopoietic: Hemoglobin at least 8.5 g/dL Hepatic: AST/ALT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) No liver disease Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN No kidney disease Cardiovascular: No acute congestive heart failure Greater than 3 months since prior myocardial infarction No coronary artery disease where cardiac stimulation might prove harmful (i.e., no unstable angina) No uncontrolled hypertension Pulmonary: See Disease Characteristics Other: Folstein Mini-Mental Status Exam score of at least 24 Able (i.e., sufficiently fluent) and willing to complete quality of life questionnaire and other assessments in either English or French No history of clinically significant allergy or intolerance to theophylline, aminophylline, or other methylxanthines No active peptic ulcer disease No uncontrolled hyperthyroidism PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: At least 14 days since prior chemotherapy No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: At least 2 months since prior initiation of hormonal therapy Hormones as appetite stimulant allowed if received for more than 2 weeks No concurrent oral contraceptives Concurrent steroids allowed if taken for at least 1 week prior to study Concurrent inhaled or oral corticosteroids allowed if taken for at least 1 week prior to study No concurrent initiation of a new hormonal manipulation Radiotherapy: At least 28 days since prior radiotherapy that includes the lung in the treatment field No concurrent radiotherapy that includes the lung in the treatment field Surgery: Not specified Other: No concurrent digitalis glycosides, lithium, coumarin anticoagulants, other xanthines, cimetidine, quinolone antibiotics (e.g, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin), macrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin), fluvoxamine, and calcium channel blockers Concurrent nebulized or inhaled cromolyn, nedocromil, beta2-agonists, ipratropium, opioids, benzodiazepines, oxygen, and diuretics allowed if dose is stable for more than 1 week prior to study No concurrent paracentesis (i.e., thoracentesis) No concurrent blood transfusion