Alemtuzumab and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV T-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as alemtuzumab, can block cancer growth in different ways. Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Others find cancer cells and help kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from growing. Giving alemtuzumab together with combination chemotherapy may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of alemtuzumab when given together with combination chemotherapy and to see how well they work in treating patients with newly diagnosed aggressive stage II, stage III, or stage IV T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Establish the safety and dose-limiting toxicities of alemtuzumab in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed, stage II-IV aggressive peripheral T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. * Measure the pharmacokinetics of alemtuzumab using different subcutaneous doses and schedules to determine the dose with the highest achievable drug levels with acceptable toxicities worthy of further investigation. Secondary * Determine the efficacy of alemtuzumab in combination with CHOP chemotherapy using escalating doses and 2 different drug schedules, as defined by overall response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival. * Measure the effects of this regimen on T-cell reconstitution and cytomegalovirus reactivation. OUTLINE: This is a multicenter, phase I, dose-escalation study of alemtuzumab followed by an open-label, phase II study. * Phase I: Patients receive CHOP chemotherapy comprising cyclophosphamide IV, doxorubicin hydrochloride IV, and vincristine IV on day 1 and oral prednisone on days 1-5. Patients also receive alemtuzumab subcutaneously (SC) on day 1 OR on days 1, 8, and 15. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for up to 8 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of alemtuzumab until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. * Phase II: Patients receive CHOP chemotherapy and alemtuzumab (at the MTD determined in phase I) as in phase I (on the most effective regimen). Patients undergo blood collection at baseline, periodically during study treatment, and after completion of study treatment for pharmacokinetics and other correlative studies. Samples are examined for presence of cytomegalovirus antigen and by flow cytometry for B- and T-cell quantification. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed periodically. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 84 patients will be accrued for this study.