Bortezomib and Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Relapsed Mantle Cell Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed mantle cell lymphoma

  * Relapsed disease
* Not refractory to prior therapy

  * Must have received 1-3 prior systemic chemotherapy regimens AND has had no disease progression while receiving chemotherapy or within 1 month of last dose of most recent therapy
* Clinically and/or radiologically documented disease

  * At least 1 site of disease must be bidimensionally measurable by CT scan or MRI with ≥ 1 lesion meeting 1 of the following criteria:

    * Lymph nodes ≥ 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm by spiral CT scan
    * Non-nodal lesion ≥ 1 cm x 1 cm by MRI, CT scan, or physical exam
  * No nonmeasurable disease only
* No preexisting ascites or pleural effusion ≥ grade 2
* No known CNS involvement by lymphoma

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status 0-2
* Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks
* Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm³
* Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm³
* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN
* AST or ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* LVEF ≥ 45% by echocardiogram or MUGA
* No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds containing boron or mannitol
* No preexisting edema ≥ grade 2
* No preexisting neuropathy (sensory and/or pain) ≥ grade 2
* No preexisting shortness of breath ≥ grade 2
* No history of other malignancies, except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer, curatively treated in situ cancer of the cervix, or other solid tumors curatively treated with no evidence of disease for ≥ 5 years
* No other serious illness or medical condition that would preclude compliance with study requirements, including any of the following:

  * Serious uncontrolled infection
  * Uncontrolled or severe cardiovascular disease, including any of the following:

    * Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
    * New York Heart Association class III-IV heart failure
    * Uncontrolled angina
    * Clinically significant pericardial disease
    * Cardiac amyloidosis
  * Significant neurological disorder

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 6 weeks since prior chemotherapy
* No prior radioactive monoclonal antibody therapy
* No prior bortezomib
* No prior investigational therapy (except for flavopiridol)
* No prior radiotherapy to \> 25% of functioning bone marrow
* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

  * Low-dose, nonmyelosuppressive radiotherapy may be allowed
* At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery
* No other concurrent anticancer therapy
* No concurrent corticosteroids
* No other concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy
* No other concurrent investigational agents