Radiation Therapy Plus Gadolinium Texaphyrin in Treating Patients With Brain Metastases

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven solid tumor with parenchymal brain metastasis Solitary metastasis eligible only if refused surgery or surgical resection deemed inappropriate No leptomeningeal metastases or subarachnoid spread of tumor No small cell lung cancer, germ cell tumors, lymphoma, or leukemia No liver metastases, unless from breast cancer No more than 1 site of extracranial metastases (multiple bone or lung metastases count as one site), unless from breast cancer Hormone receptor status: Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 50,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST and ALT no greater than 2 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/mL Other: No history of porphyria No history of G6PD deficiency HIV negative No other major medical illnesses No major psychiatric impairment Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No chemotherapy during and for 2 weeks after gadolinium texaphyrin therapy Endocrine therapy: Concurrent hormonal therapy allowed Radiotherapy: No prior cranial radiation, including prior stereotactic radiosurgery No plan for radiosurgery or radiation boost following whole brain radiotherapy Concurrent radiotherapy allowed to other sites, except kidneys and liver Surgery: No prior subtotal or total resection of brain metastases (except biopsies)