Inclusion Criteria

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