Zidovudine Plus Interleukin-2 and Ganciclovir in Treating Patients With AIDS-Related Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •HIV positive
• •Diagnosis of central nervous system lymphoma by one of the following means:
• •* Brain biopsy
• •* Thallium spectroscopy scan in conjunction with CT scan or MRI after failing to improve with at least 2 weeks of antitoxoplasmosis therapy
• •* Cerebral spinal fluid positive for Epstein Barr virus in conjunction with positive thallium spectroscopy scan
• •* Thallium spectroscopy scan demonstrating a thallium retention index greater than 1
• •Documented intracranial space occupying lesion
• •No systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age:
• •18 and over
• •Performance status:
• •Not specified
• •Life expectancy:
• •Not specified
• •Hematopoietic:
• •Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,000/mm3
• •Platelet count at least 50,000/mm3
• •Hepatic:
• •Bilirubin and SGOT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal
• •No major hepatic dysfunction as evidenced by encephalopathy, ascites, or varices
• •Renal:
• •Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
• •Other:
• •No prior other malignancy within the past 5 years except carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal cell carcinoma of the skin, or Kaposi's sarcoma not requiring systemic therapy
• •No active uncontrolled infection except HIV or Epstein Barr virus
• •No known allergy to E. coli derived products
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •Biologic therapy:
• •Not specified
• •Chemotherapy:
• •Not specified
• •Endocrine therapy:
• •Concurrent corticosteroids allowed
• •Radiotherapy:
• •Not specified
• •Surgery:
• •Not specified