Levofloxacin to Prevent Infection Following Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Solid Tumors or Lymphoma

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Diagnosis of solid tumor, including but not limited to, the following:
• •* Stage II-IV germ cell malignancy
• •* Small cell lung cancer
• •* Recurrent breast cancer OR
• •Diagnosis of lymphoma
• •About to start a program of antineoplastic chemotherapy for malignant disease that will regularly induce myelosuppression with a risk of temporary severe neutropenia (i.e., neutrophil count less than 500/mm3), but does not routinely require filgrastim (G-CSF) or stem cell support
• •Not previously randomized into the Significant trial for a different multicourse chemotherapy program
• •Hormone receptor status:
• •* Not specified
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age:
• •16 and over
• •Sex:
• •Not specified
• •Menopausal status:
• •Not specified
• •Performance status:
• •Not specified
• •Life expectancy:
• •Not specified
• •Hematopoietic:
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •Hepatic:
• •Not specified
• •Renal:
• •Creatinine normal OR
• •Creatinine clearance greater than 40 mL/min
• •Other:
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception in addition to oral contraceptive pills
• •HIV negative
• •No epilepsy
• •No history of adverse events resulting from fluoroquinolone therapy (e.g., allergy or tendinitis)
• •No concurrent use of a sunbed or exposure to strong sunlight
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •Biologic therapy:
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •Chemotherapy:
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •Endocrine therapy:
• •Not specified
• •Radiotherapy:
• •Not specified
• •Surgery:
• •Not specified
• •Other:
• •No other concurrent antibacterial therapy
• •No other concurrent prophylactic antibacterial agents including cotrimoxazole prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii
• •No iron supplements, sucralfate, or mineral antacids 2 hours before or after study medication
• •Concurrent entry into other clinical trials allowed