Chemotherapy and Azidothymidine, With or Without Radiotherapy, for High Grade Lymphoma in AIDS-Risk Group Members

Inclusion Criteria

Concurrent Medication:

Allowed:

Ibuprofen.
Standard antiemetic agents.
Ganciclovir therapy for sight- or life-threatening Cytomegalovirus infection.
Zidovudine and methotrexate may be resumed during ganciclovir maintenance phase.

Exclusion Criteria

Co-existing Condition:

The following patients will be excluded from the study:

Patients with recurrent infection that may interfere with the planned protocol.
Patients with a second active tumor other than nonmelanomatous skin cancer or Kaposi's sarcoma.
Patients with stage IE primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Concurrent Medication:

Excluded:

Corticosteroids.
Aspirin.
Acetaminophen.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, except ibuprofen.
Chemotherapy for infection associated with neutropenia.
Zidovudine (AZT) for infection associated with neutropenia.
Investigational therapies, except ganciclovir therapy for sight- or life-threatening cytomegalovirus infection.
AZT and methotrexate will be suspended during induction therapy with ganciclovir.

The following patients will be excluded from the study:

Patients with recurrent infection that may interfere with the planned protocol.
Patients with a second active tumor other than nonmelanomatous skin cancer or Kaposi's sarcoma.
Patients with stage IE primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Prior Medication:

Excluded:

Zidovudine (AZT).
Excluded within 2 weeks of study entry:
Immunomodulating agents.
Antiretroviral therapy prior to diagnosis of lymphoma.

Patients must demonstrate the following clinical and laboratory findings:

Any stage of the disease, including stage I.
Newly diagnosed, previously untreated high-grade lymphoma.
Presence of measurable tumor parameter(s).
Adequate hepatic, renal, and bone marrow function.