Bexarotene and Interferon Alfa in Treating Patients With Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
• * Stage IB, IIA, IIB, III, or IV
• Measurable or assessable disease
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Karnofsky 60-100%
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL
• WBC at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 70,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN
• Fasting triglyceride normal (normalization with an antilipemic agent is allowed prior to study)
• No severe decompensated liver disease (e.g., cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, or any other significant liver dysfunction)
• Renal:
• Calcium no greater than 11.5 mg/dL
• Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN
• Cardiovascular:
• No myocardial infarction in the past 6 months
• No unstable angina
• No class III or IV congestive heart failure
• No ventricular tachyarrhythmias
• Pulmonary:
• No pulmonary infiltrates or clinical pulmonary impairment
• Other:
• HIV negative
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use 2 forms of effective contraception for 1 month before, during, and for 1 month after study therapy
• No known allergy or sensitivity to interferon alfa or bexarotene or other components of study drugs
• No uncontrolled thyroid disorder
• No other concurrent serious medical illness that would preclude study
• No infection
• No history of pancreatitis
• No history of neuropsychiatric disorders requiring hospitalization
• No history of autoimmune disease that would pose significant risk
• Must be willing and able to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun or ultraviolet light
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• No concurrent systemic anticancer chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• No concurrent systemic corticosteroids
• Radiotherapy:
• No concurrent localized radiotherapy to target lesions unless considered
• to have shown progressive disease
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• At least 30 days since prior systemic doses of more than 15,000 IU per day of vitamin A or any other retinoid class drug
• At least 30 days since prior participation in any other investigational drug study
• No concurrent systemic anti-psoriatic drugs or therapies
• No concurrent systemic other anticancer drugs or therapies
• No concurrent gemfibrozil
• No other concurrent investigational medication