Rituximab, Gemcitabine, and Vinorelbine in Treating Patients With Hodgkin Lymphoma That Has Relapsed or Not Responded to Treatment

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Pathologically confirmed classical Hodgkin lymphoma, including 1 of the following cell types:

  * Nodular sclerosis
  * Mixed cellularity
  * Lymphocyte-rich
  * Lymphocyte-depleted
* Measurable disease using the Cheson criteria, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 2.0 cm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 1.0 cm by spiral CT scan
* Progressive or relapsed disease after ≥ 1 prior line of combination chemotherapy
* No known CNS metastasis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status 0-1
* ANC \> 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count \> 75,000/mm\^3
* Total bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL (unless due to hemolysis)
* AST or ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal
* Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No active hepatitis B infection
* No known chronic hepatitis B carrier
* No HIV positivity
* No concurrent uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:

  * Symptomatic neurological illness
  * Active uncontrolled systemic infection considered opportunistic, life-threatening, or clinically significant at the time of study treatment
  * Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  * Unstable angina pectoris
  * Cardiac arrhythmia
  * Significant pulmonary disease or hypoxia
  * Psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* More than 14 days since prior chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, or investigational therapy and recovered
* No prior gemcitabine hydrochloride, vinorelbine ditartrate, or rituximab
* No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies with the intent to treat the malignancy