BCX-1777 in Treating Patients With Refractory Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL)

Any stage except IA patch only

Previously treated according to 1 of the following:

Stage IA plaque, IB, or IIA:

At least 4 prior conventional and/or experimental regimens (topical or systemic, including psoralen-ultraviolet light [PUVA] and systemic corticosteroids)

Stage IIB, III, or IV:

At least 1 prior systemic regimen (systemic corticosteroids and PUVA do not count as systemic regimens for this purpose) NOTE: Repeated use of the same regimen is considered one regimen
Measurable disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

18 and over

Performance status

ECOG 0-3

Life expectancy

At least 3 months

Hematopoietic

Granulocyte count at least 2,000/mm^3
Platelet count at least 75,000/mm^3
Hemoglobin at least 10.0 g/dL

Hepatic

Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless due to Gilbert's syndrome)
ALT no greater than 2 times ULN
Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN
No hepatitis B or C

Renal

Creatinine clearance at least 45 mL/min

Other

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
HIV negative
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) negative
No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
No other illness that would limit study participation
No active serious infection not controlled by antibiotics

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

No concurrent anticancer antibody therapy
No concurrent anticancer immunotherapy
No concurrent anticancer gene therapy
No concurrent anticancer vaccine therapy
No concurrent anticancer angiogenesis inhibitors
No concurrent sargramostim (GM-CSF)
No concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF) during course 1 of therapy

Chemotherapy

More than 21 days since prior chemotherapy unless fully recovered
No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

See Disease Characteristics
More than 2 weeks since prior topical corticosteroids
No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy

More than 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy
No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

Not specified

Other

More than 2 weeks since prior antineoplastic therapy
More than 21 days since prior investigational agents unless fully recovered
No concurrent citrate-blood products within 30 minutes before or after study treatment
No concurrent anticancer matrix metalloprotease inhibitors
No other concurrent anti-CTCL therapy
No concurrent use of tanning beds
No other concurrent investigational agents