A Phase II Trial Of Induction Therapy With Zidovudine, Interleukin-2, And Ganciclovir In The Treatment Of HIV Positive Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine the safety and toxicity of zidovudine, interleukin-2, and ganciclovir in patients with AIDS related primary central nervous system lymphoma.
• Determine the response rate and overall survival of these patients treated with this regimen.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

• Induction therapy: Patients receive zidovudine (AZT) IV and ganciclovir IV over 1 hour every 12 hours on days 1-14. Patients also receive interleukin-2 (IL-2) IV every 12 hours on days 1-14 and a combination antiretroviral therapy consisting of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (one of which must be AZT), nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and protease inhibitors. AZT and ganciclovir treatment continues for an additional 7 days if partial response is achieved.
• Maintenance therapy: Patients receive IL-2 subcutaneously 3 times a week for 6 months. Patients also receive oral ganciclovir 3 times a day and combination antiretroviral therapy (AZT allowed, but not required). Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Patients are followed monthly for 1 year, every 3 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months thereafter.