Combination Chemotherapy, Monoclonal Antibody, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

Inclusion criteria:

1. Primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma \[B-cell, Cluster of Differentiation 20 (CD20) antigen positive\] based on positive biopsy or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or vitreous cytology (in association with measurable intraparenchymal tumor). Cytology must demonstrate lymphoma or have an immunohistochemical diagnosis of malignant lymphocytes with a monoclonal lymphocytic population.
2. Life expectancy ≥ 8 weeks;
3. Zubrod performance status of 0-2;
4. Absolute granulocyte count ≥1500/mm3; platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3; creatinine clearance ≥ 50, calculated with the Cockcroft-Gault Equation: Cr Clearance = (140-age) x wt (kg)/(Cr\[mg/dl\]x 72); Bilirubin, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (AST) ≤ 2 x institutional upper limits of normal;
5. Patients must sign a study-specific informed consent prior to study entry.
6. Age ≥ 18

Exclusion criteria:

1. Evidence of systemic lymphoma;
2. Prior malignancy (excluding in situ carcinoma of the cervix or non-melanomatous skin cancer)unless disease free for at least five years;
3. Prior radiotherapy to the brain or head/neck;
4. Prior chemotherapy;
5. History of idiopathic sensitivity to any of the drugs to be used;
6. Active infectious process;
7. Seropositive for HIV, AIDS, or post-organ transplant;
8. Pregnant women are ineligible as treatment involves unforeseeable risks to the participant and to the embryo or fetus.
9. Active hepatitis B.