Chemotherapy and Photodynamic Therapy in Treating Patients With Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma within the past year * Stage IB or IIA disease * No prior diagnosis more advanced than stage IIA disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Not specified Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL * WBC at least 2,000/mm\^3 * Absolute lymphocyte count normal Hepatic: * Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN * No significant hepatic dysfunction Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN * Calcium no greater than 11.5 mg/dL * No significant renal dysfunction Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 1 month after study participation * Fasting triglycerides normal (fenofibrate or another anti-lipemic agent allowed except gemfibrozil) * HIV negative * No other concurrent known serious medical illness or infection that would preclude study participation * No prior uncontrolled hyperlipidemia * No pancreatitis or clinically significant risk factors for developing pancreatitis * No known allergy or sensitivity to retinoid class drugs or fenofibrate or idiosyncratic reactions to psoralen compounds * No history of light-sensitive disease states (e.g., lupus, porphyria, or albinism) or aphakia * No prior or concurrent melanoma or invasive squamous cell carcinoma * No pre-existing gallbladder disease PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No prior systemic anticancer interferon * No prior systemic anticancer denileukin diftitox Chemotherapy: * At least 30 days since prior topical anticancer carmustine or mechlorethamine * No prior systemic anticancer alkaloid chemotherapy * No other concurrent systemic or topical anticancer chemotherapy (e.g., methotrexate or cyclophosphamide) Endocrine therapy: * At least 30 days since prior topical anticancer corticosteroids * No concurrent systemic or topical anticancer corticosteroids Radiotherapy: * No concurrent localized radiotherapy to specific study lesions except at investigator's discretion Surgery: * Not specified Other: * No prior systemic anticancer therapy * At least 30 days since prior topical anticancer therapy (e.g., ultraviolet B light or psoralen-ultraviolet-light therapy) * At least 30 days since prior participation in another investigational drug study * At least 30 days since prior vitamin A (at doses of more than 15,000 IU/day) or other retinoid class drugs * No other concurrent systemic or topical anticancer drugs or therapies * No other concurrent systemic retinoid class drugs, beta-carotene compounds, or vitamin A (at doses of more than 15,000 IU/day) * No other concurrent investigational medication * No concurrent gemfibrozil * No concurrent statin class anti-lipemics combined with fibrate class anti-lipemics (e.g., atorvastatin with fenofibrate)