OUTLINE: This is a multicenter, dose-escalation study of motexafin gadolinium. Patients receive a loading dose regimen comprising motexafin gadolinium IV over 10-15 minutes on days 1-5 or days 1-5 and 8-12 (cohort 7). After the loading dose regimen, patients receive a maintenance regimen comprising motexafin gadolinium IV 3 times weekly for a maximum of 6.5 weeks. Patients also undergo radiotherapy once daily, 5 days a week, for 6.5 weeks. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive an escalating number of doses of motexafin gadolinium until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. Patients are followed at 4 weeks and then every 3 months thereafter.