ACAPHA in Preventing Lung Cancer in Former Smokers With Bronchial Intraepithelial Neoplasia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * One or more areas of bronchial intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN) (metaplasia/dysplasia) with a nuclear morphometry index \> 1.36 and a surface diameter \> 1.2 mm on autofluorescence bronchoscopy * Atypical sputum cells as determined by computer-assisted image analysis * Former smoker (i.e., stopped smoking at least 1 year ago) who has smoked at least 30 pack-years (i.e., 1 pack/day for 30 years or more) * Exhaled carbon monoxide level \< 5 ppm * No invasive cancer on bronchoscopy or abnormal spiral chest CT scan suspicious of lung cancer PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0 or 1 * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Normal renal function tests (BUN, creatinine, urinalysis) * Normal liver function tests (AST, ALT, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase) * No chronic active hepatitis or liver cirrhosis * No acute bronchitis or pneumonia within the past month * No known reaction to xylocaine * No medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, could jeopardize the patient's safety during participation in the study, including any of the following: * Acute or chronic respiratory failure * Unstable angina * Uncontrolled congestive heart failure * Bleeding disorder PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * Not specified