Rituximab and Dexamethasone in Treating Patients With Low-Grade Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

This phase II trial studies the side effects and how well giving rituximab and dexamethasone together works in treating patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab, can block cancer growth in different ways. Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Others find cancer cells and help kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as dexamethasone, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving rituximab together with dexamethasone may kill more cancer cells

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To estimate clinical response rate (RR) at 3 and 6 months. II. To estimate Grade 2-4 -infusion-related toxicity.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate laboratory parameters and correlate with clinical response including: antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity and effector cell phenotype analysis at baseline, 4 weeks and three months.

II. To evaluate laboratory parameters and correlate with clinical response including: soluble cluster of differentiation (CD)20 fragments or CD20-containing membrane fragments at baseline, 4 weeks, and 3 months.

III. To evaluate laboratory parameters and correlate with clinical response including: phenotype analysis of CD16 and CD32 on natural killer (NK) cells.

IV. To evaluate laboratory parameters and correlate with clinical response including: rituximab pharmacokinetic studies at baseline, 4 weeks and 3 months.

OUTLINE:

Patients receive dexamethasone intravenously (IV) and rituximab IV once weekly. Treatment continues for 4 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 3 and 6 months.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must have histologically proven CD20+ low grade B cell lymphoma including follicular, marginal zone, monocytoid B cell, and lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma; patients may be previously untreated or in relapse
* Patients must have measurable disease with clearly defined margins assessed by physical exam with direct measurement (for cutaneous B-cell lymphomas), computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), defined as \>= 20 mm with conventional CT or MRI or \>= 10 mm using spiral CT scan
* Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin \> 7 g/dl
* Platelets \>= 100,000/mm\^3
* Serum creatinine =\< 2.5 mg/dl
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =\< 2x the upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Karnofsky performance score \>= 70 %
* Patient has signed an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved informed consent form that conforms to federal and institutional guidelines

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient has received rituximab therapy within 6 months of entry into protocol
* Patient has received systemic steroid therapy within one month of entry into protocol
* Patient has Intermediate or High Grade NHL, mantle cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or small lymphocytic lymphoma
* Patient is pregnant or lactating
* Patient is unwilling or unable to practice contraception during treatment and for one year thereafter
* Patient has active central nervous system (CNS) disease
* Patient has human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease
* Patient has an active infection requiring antimicrobial therapy
* Patient has significant heart disease, New York Heart Classification III or IV heart disease (III: Marked limitation of physical activity; comfortable at rest, but less than ordinary activity causes fatigue, or dyspnea; IV: Unable to carry on any physical activity without symptoms; symptoms are present even at rest; if any physical activity is undertaken, symptoms are increased)
* Patient requires supplemental oxygen
* Patient has a concomitant malignancy or previous malignancy within the last five years, with the exception of adequately treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or in situ cervical or in situ breast cancer
* Patients with active hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or hepatitis, or with hepatitis C positive serology