| Inclusion Criteria: | 1) Patients with high-risk Ann Arbor stage III-IV follicular lymphoma. High-risk is defined by advanced stage (III or IV), plus any 2 of the following features: age 60 or greater; elevated LDH; Hgb < 12; or number of involved nodal sites 5 or more .
2) Patients will be previously untreated.
3) Adequate organ function.
4) Follicular lymphoma, grade 3 (follicular large cell lymphoma): If eligible for a current large cell lymphoma protocol, that alternative protocol is recommended, particularly grade 3b or FLCL patients characterized as large non-cleaved cell. However, both FND and rituximab have established efficacy in FLCL, so if a patient is not eligible for a protocol for aggressive lymphoma (e.g., because of SCCL in the marrow), then registration on this trial is permitted.
5) Biopsy or FNA material is strongly recommended for bcl-2 studies to verify rearrangement status of all patients who are designated "germline". (see section 6.4). For other patients, tissue availability is desirable but not mandatory.
6) Patients must have a performance status of Zubrod 3 or better
7) Patients must have adequate renal and hepatic function (creatinine < 2mg%; bilirubin < 2 mg%). Patients with renal or liver dysfunction due to organ infiltration by lymphoma may be eligible after discussion with the study chairman.
8) Patients may not receive other concurrent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy.
9) Patients must sign an informed consent indicating that they are aware of the investigational nature of this study in keeping with the policies of the hospital. |