Bortezomib and Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Relapsed Mantle Cell Lymphoma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed mantle cell lymphoma
• * Relapsed disease
• Not refractory to prior therapy
• * Must have received 1-3 prior systemic chemotherapy regimens AND has had no disease progression while receiving chemotherapy or within 1 month of last dose of most recent therapy
• Clinically and/or radiologically documented disease
• * At least 1 site of disease must be bidimensionally measurable by CT scan or MRI with ≥ 1 lesion meeting 1 of the following criteria:
• * Lymph nodes ≥ 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm by spiral CT scan
• * Non-nodal lesion ≥ 1 cm x 1 cm by MRI, CT scan, or physical exam
• * No nonmeasurable disease only
• No preexisting ascites or pleural effusion ≥ grade 2
• No known CNS involvement by lymphoma
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• ECOG performance status 0-2
• Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks
• Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm³
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• AST or ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• LVEF ≥ 45% by echocardiogram or MUGA
• No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds containing boron or mannitol
• No preexisting edema ≥ grade 2
• No preexisting neuropathy (sensory and/or pain) ≥ grade 2
• No preexisting shortness of breath ≥ grade 2
• No history of other malignancies, except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer, curatively treated in situ cancer of the cervix, or other solid tumors curatively treated with no evidence of disease for ≥ 5 years
• No other serious illness or medical condition that would preclude compliance with study requirements, including any of the following:
• * Serious uncontrolled infection
• * Uncontrolled or severe cardiovascular disease, including any of the following:
• * Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• * New York Heart Association class III-IV heart failure
• * Uncontrolled angina
• * Clinically significant pericardial disease
• * Cardiac amyloidosis
• * Significant neurological disorder
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 6 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• No prior radioactive monoclonal antibody therapy
• No prior bortezomib
• No prior investigational therapy (except for flavopiridol)
• No prior radiotherapy to \> 25% of functioning bone marrow
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• * Low-dose, nonmyelosuppressive radiotherapy may be allowed
• At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy
• No concurrent corticosteroids
• No other concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy
• No other concurrent investigational agents