Bexarotene and Interferon Alfa in Treating Patients With Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Stage IB, IIA, IIB, III, or IV
Measurable or assessable disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

Not specified

Hematopoietic:

Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL
WBC at least 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count at least 70,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
SGOT and SGPT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN
Fasting triglyceride normal (normalization with an antilipemic agent is allowed prior to study)
No severe decompensated liver disease (e.g., cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, or any other significant liver dysfunction)

Renal:

Calcium no greater than 11.5 mg/dL
Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

No myocardial infarction in the past 6 months
No unstable angina
No class III or IV congestive heart failure
No ventricular tachyarrhythmias

Pulmonary:

No pulmonary infiltrates or clinical pulmonary impairment

Other:

HIV negative
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use 2 forms of effective contraception for 1 month before, during, and for 1 month after study therapy
No known allergy or sensitivity to interferon alfa or bexarotene or other components of study drugs
No uncontrolled thyroid disorder
No other concurrent serious medical illness that would preclude study
No infection
No history of pancreatitis
No history of neuropsychiatric disorders requiring hospitalization
No history of autoimmune disease that would pose significant risk
Must be willing and able to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun or ultraviolet light

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

Not specified

Chemotherapy:

No concurrent systemic anticancer chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

No concurrent systemic corticosteroids

Radiotherapy:

No concurrent localized radiotherapy to target lesions unless considered
to have shown progressive disease

Surgery:

Not specified

Other:

At least 30 days since prior systemic doses of more than 15,000 IU per day of vitamin A or any other retinoid class drug
At least 30 days since prior participation in any other investigational drug study
No concurrent systemic anti-psoriatic drugs or therapies
No concurrent systemic other anticancer drugs or therapies
No concurrent gemfibrozil
No other concurrent investigational medication