Rituximab, Temozolomide, and Methylprednisolone in Treating Patients With Recurrent Primary CNS Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed primary CNS non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by brain biopsy, positive cerebrospinal fluid cytology, or vitrectomy

Recurrent disease

Measurable disease, define as bi-dimensionally measurable lesions with clearly defined margins by brain MRI or CT scan

Radiographical evidence of tumor progression by MRI or CT scan
Steroid therapy must be stable for 5 days prior to scan

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

18 and over

Performance status

Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy

More than 8 weeks

Hematopoietic

WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3
Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL (transfusion allowed)

Hepatic

SGOT < 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Bilirubin < 2 times ULN
No active or latent hepatitis B infection

Renal

Creatinine < 1.5 mg/dL OR
Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min

Other

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No other malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
No uncontrolled significant medical illness that would preclude study treatment
No active infection
No active HIV infection
No concurrent disease that would dangerously alter drug metabolism or obscure toxicity

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

At least 7 days since prior interferon or thalidomide
No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF)
No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy

No prior temozolomide
At least 14 days since prior methotrexate
At least 21 days since prior procarbazine
At least 42 days since prior nitrosoureas
No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

See Disease Characteristics
At least 7 days since prior tamoxifen
No concurrent hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy

No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

Not specified

Other

Recovered from all prior therapy
At least 28 days since prior investigational agents
At least 28 days since other prior cytotoxic therapy
At least 7 days since other prior non-cytotoxic agents (e.g., tretinoin) (radiosenitizers allowed)
No other concurrent investigational drugs