Rituximab Plus Fludarabine in Treating Patients With Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Diagnosis of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia
• CD20 positive by bone marrow immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry
• Presence of monoclonal paraprotein
• IgM level at least 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• Over 18
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 6 months
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count greater than 25,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin less than 2.5 times ULN
• SGOT less than 2.5 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine less than 2.5 mg/dL
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study
• No serious comorbid disease
• No uncontrolled bacterial, fungal, or viral infection
• No other active malignancy
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No prior rituximab
• No prior nucleoside analogue therapy
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 30 days since prior chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• At least 30 days since prior steroid therapy
• No concurrent corticosteroids
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 30 days since prior radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• No more than 2 prior courses of therapy