OBJECTIVES:
* Correlate gene expression profiles with progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with stage III or IV follicular lymphoma treated with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone with or without rituximab on clinical trial E-1496.
* Determine if immunoglobulin Fc-gamma receptor polymorphisms are predictive of PFS in these patients.
* Assess the significance of the microenvironment by constructing tissue microarrays of follicular lymphoma and immunostaining with relevant biomarkers.
* Correlate relevant biomarkers with clinical features, response, and PFS.
OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.
Tissue samples are analyzed by gene expression profiling, microarrays to predict gene expression, immunohistochemistry, and immunoglobulin Fc-gamma receptor polymorphism analysis for biological markers.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 175 samples will be accrued for this study.
