Rituximab, Gemcitabine, and Vinorelbine in Treating Patients With Hodgkin Lymphoma That Has Relapsed or Not Responded to Treatment

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Pathologically confirmed classical Hodgkin lymphoma, including 1 of the following cell types:
• * Nodular sclerosis
• * Mixed cellularity
• * Lymphocyte-rich
• * Lymphocyte-depleted
• Measurable disease using the Cheson criteria, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 2.0 cm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 1.0 cm by spiral CT scan
• Progressive or relapsed disease after ≥ 1 prior line of combination chemotherapy
• No known CNS metastasis
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• ECOG performance status 0-1
• ANC \> 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count \> 75,000/mm\^3
• Total bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL (unless due to hemolysis)
• AST or ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No active hepatitis B infection
• No known chronic hepatitis B carrier
• No HIV positivity
• No concurrent uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:
• * Symptomatic neurological illness
• * Active uncontrolled systemic infection considered opportunistic, life-threatening, or clinically significant at the time of study treatment
• * Symptomatic congestive heart failure
• * Unstable angina pectoris
• * Cardiac arrhythmia
• * Significant pulmonary disease or hypoxia
• * Psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 14 days since prior chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, or investigational therapy and recovered
• No prior gemcitabine hydrochloride, vinorelbine ditartrate, or rituximab
• No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies with the intent to treat the malignancy