OBJECTIVES: I. Assess two year progression free survival after treatment with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) plus rituximab followed by radiotherapy in patients with stage I, IE, or non-bulky stage II or IIE high risk localized intermediate or high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. II. Determine the toxicity of this treatment in these patients.
OUTLINE: Patients receive rituximab IV on days 1 and 8 of the first course, then on day 1 of courses 2 and 3. Patients receive cyclophosphamide IV over 1-2 hours, doxorubicin IV, and vincristine IV on day 10 of the first course, then on day 3 of courses 2 and 3. Patients receive oral prednisone on days 10-14 of the first course, then on days 3-7 of courses 2 and 3. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 3 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Chemotherapy is followed by radiotherapy administered 5 days a week for 4-5 weeks. Patients are followed every 6 months for two years, and then annually thereafter.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 60 patients will be accrued for this study.
