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