Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To estimate the response rate and time-to-progression (TTP) in previously treated patients with low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with thalidomide. II. To evaluate the effect of thalidomide on microvascular density in the bone marrow of patients with low grade cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. III. To evaluate the effects of thalidomide on bFGF levels in serum and urine. OUTLINE: Patients receive oral thalidomide once daily. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients are followed every 6 months for 2 years and then annually for 3 years. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 21-45 patients will be accrued for this study.