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