Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Asymptomatic, Indolent Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma or Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed indolent lymphoma or leukemia of one of the following subtypes:
• * Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• * Follicular center lymphoma (grade I or II)
• * Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma
• * Marginal zone lymphoma (nodal, extranodal, or splenic)
• * Small lymphocytic lymphoma
• * Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia
• Any stage of disease allowed
• No hairy cell leukemia
• No T-cell lymphomas
• No prior treatment for lymphoma/leukemia
• Considered appropriate for expectant management
• * Must not require cytotoxic therapy
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• ECOG 0-1
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin greater than 10.0 g/dL
• Platelet count greater than 75,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin no greater than 2 times normal
• AST and ALT no greater than 2 times normal
• Renal
• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular
• No uncontrolled congestive heart failure
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
• No unstable coronary artery disease
• No myocardial infarction in the past 6 months
• No serious or uncontrolled arrhythmias
• No history of thromboembolic disease
• Pulmonary
• No asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring the use of home oxygen or frequent oral steroids (prednisone greater than 20 mg per day for 5 days within the past 3 months)
• Other
• HIV negative
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Not planning to become pregnant in the next 2 years
• Fertile female patients must use 1 highly effective method and 1 additional effective method of contraception for 1 month prior to, during, and for 1 month after study participation
• Male patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 1 month after study participation
• Willing and able to participate in the S.T.E.P.S. (System for Thalidomide Education and Prescribing Safety) program
• No contraindications to meeting the requirements of the S.T.E.P.S. program
• No other prior malignancy except curatively treated non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No peripheral neuropathy
• No poorly controlled diabetes defined by either of the following:
• * Glycosylated hemoglobin greater than 8.0 g/dL
• * Known end organ disease (i.e., nephropathy, retinopathy, or neuropathy)
• No other concurrent illness that would preclude study therapy
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• Endocrine therapy
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy
• Not specified
• Surgery
• Not specified