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