Phase II Study of Weekly Administered High-Dose Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2B (PEGIntron) in Advanced Stage Low Grade Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the response in patients with minimally treated or previously untreated advanced low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with pegylated interferon alfa-2b. II. Determine the effects of this treatment regimen on the immune system by measuring T-cell subsets and NK cells in this patient population. III. Determine event-free and progression-free survival in this patient population treated with this regimen. IV. Evaluate the toxicity profile of this treatment regimen in these patients.

OUTLINE: Patients receive pegylated interferon alfa-2b subcutaneously once weekly for 6 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Upon completion of treatment, patients are followed every 6 months for at least 2 years.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 30 patients will be initially accrued for this study. Additional patients will be accrued if acceptable responses are seen in the first cohort.