Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Treating Patients With Previously Untreated HIV-Associated Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Overview

Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy with or without monoclonal antibody therapy in treating patients who have previously untreated HIV-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Monoclonal antibodies such as rituximab can locate cancer cells and either kill them or deliver cancer-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. It is not yet known whether combination chemotherapy plus monoclonal antibody therapy is more effective than combination chemotherapy alone in treating HIV-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the efficacy of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) with or without rituximab in patients with previously untreated HIV-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. II. Determine the efficacy of rituximab as maintenance therapy following remission induction with CHOP in these patients. III. Determine the effect of rituximab on the immune system and HIV viral load in these patients. IV. Determine the relationship between EBV load and the presence of EBV in lymphoma tumor cells of these patients. V. Compare the effect of CHOP with or without rituximab on EBV load in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified by extent of disease (stage I/II vs III/IV). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms: Arm I: Patients receive cyclophosphamide IV, doxorubicin IV, and vincristine IV on day 3 and oral prednisone on days 3-7. Patients receive rituximab on day 1. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for a minimum of 4 courses or 2 courses beyond complete response in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with stage I, stage IE (including bulky), or nonbulky stage II or IIE disease receive 3 courses of chemotherapy with rituximab followed by radiotherapy beginning 3 weeks after completion of the third course. Patients who achieve partial response for a minimum of 28 days or complete response receive maintenance rituximab IV beginning on day 28 of the final course of chemotherapy. Maintenance rituximab treatment repeats every 4 weeks for 3 courses. Arm II: Patients receive cyclophosphamide IV, doxorubicin IV, and vincristine IV on day 1 and oral prednisone on days 1-5. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for a minimum of 4 courses or 2 courses beyond complete response. Patients with stage I, stage IE (including bulky), or nonbulky stage II or IIE disease receive 3 courses of chemotherapy. Patients receive radiotherapy beginning 3 weeks after completion of the third course of chemotherapy. Both arms: Patients receive filgrastim (G-CSF) subcutaneously beginning on day 4 and continuing through day 13 of each chemotherapy course or until blood counts recover. Patients are followed every 4 weeks for 1 year and then every 2 months until death.