Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent B-Cell Lymphoma

OBJECTIVES: Primary * To evaluate the safety and feasibility of intramuscular DNA vaccination with a plasmid DNA vector expressing the mouse extracellular domain of CD20, namely pINGmminiCD20. Doses of pING-mminiCD20 will be escalated by group to determine the optimal biological dose. Secondary * To evaluate antibody and T-cell responses to CD20 after vaccination. * To observe patients for evidence of any antitumor response generated after vaccination. OUTLINE: The entire immunization schedule comprises five injections administered every three weeks (for a total of approximately four and one half months). After the second injection, blood will be drawn for assessment of antibody and T-cell responses. After the fifth and final injection, blood will again be drawn for assessment of antibody and T-cell responses.