Interferon Alfa in Treating Children With HIV-Related Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically proven malignancy diagnosed at any time following confirmation of HIV-positivity, including the following:
• * Leukemia
• * Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• * CNS lymphoma
• * Other solid tumors
• Measurable disease
• Concurrent registration on protocol POG-9182 required
• * Confirmed HIV-positive by POG-9182 criteria
• * Required biology studies completed
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 21 and under
• Performance status:
• Not specified
• Life expectancy:
• More than 4 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 (unless bone marrow involvement present)
• Hepatic:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Bilirubin less than 1.5 times normal
• SGPT and SGOT less than 2 times normal (may discuss with Study Coordinator)
• Renal:
• Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular:
• Adequate cardiac function by echocardiogram/MUGA scan
• Other:
• Chronically infected patients must be stable enough to meet life expectancy requirement
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No prior interferon for cancer
• Prior interferon alfa for viral infections (i.e., hepatitis) must be discussed with Study Coordinator
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 1 week since prior chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 1 week since prior radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• Prior antiretroviral therapy allowed
• At least 1 week since prior acute treatment for any serious or life-threatening infection
• No concurrent local treatment unless discussed with the Study Coordinator
• No concurrent acute treatment for any serious or life-threatening infection
• Concurrent antiretroviral therapy allowed