VEGF Trap in Treating Patients With Solid Tumors or Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

RATIONALE: VEGF Trap may stop the growth of solid tumors or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by stopping blood flow to the cancer.

PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of VEGF Trap in treating patients who have relapsed or refractory solid tumors or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

OBJECTIVES:

* Determine the long-term safety and tolerability of VEGF Trap in patients with incurable relapsed or refractory solid tumors or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with stable or responding disease after receiving treatment on protocol MSKCC-01131.
* Determine the biological effect of this therapy on suppressing tumor growth or progression in these patients.
* Determine the steady state concentration of VEGF Trap over time in these patients.
* Determine whether patients develop antibodies to this therapy during extended exposure.

OUTLINE: This is an extension study for patients who showed evidence of stable disease or complete or partial remission after completing treatment on protocol MSKCC-01131.

Patients continue to receive VEGF Trap subcutaneously once weekly for up to an additional 6 months in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. Patients receive treatment at the same dose level as on protocol MSKCC-01131.

Patients are followed at approximately 30 days.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A maximum of 30 patients will be accrued for this study.

Eligibility Criteria:
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed incurable relapsed or refractory solid tumor or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that has been treated on MSKCC-01131
* Must have completed participation in protocol MSKCC-01131 through visit 16 and have shown evidence of stable disease or complete or partial remission of tumor burden and no evidence of symptomatic deterioration

  * No adverse event or toxicity which resulted in discontinuation of participation in protocol MSKCC-01131
  * If a patient experienced dose-limiting toxicity, then the patient must have demonstrated the ability to tolerate the same dose or a lower dose prior to entry in this study
* No known or suspected squamous cell carcinoma of the lung
* No prior or concurrent new neurological symptoms or CNS (brain or leptomeningeal) metastases during protocol MSKCC-01131

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* 25 and over

Performance status

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

* Not specified

Hematopoietic

* WBC at least 3,500/mm3
* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
* Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL
* No severe or uncontrolled hematologic condition

Hepatic

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST and ALT no greater than 2 times ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN
* PT, PTT, and INR normal

Renal

* Creatinine no greater than ULN
* No 1+ or greater proteinuria
* No severe or uncontrolled renal condition

Cardiovascular

* No severe or uncontrolled cardiovascular condition

Pulmonary

* No severe or uncontrolled pulmonary condition

Other

* No prior hypersensitivity reactions to any recombinant proteins (e.g., VEGF Trap)
* No severe or uncontrolled gastrointestinal, immunological, or musculoskeletal condition
* No severe or uncontrolled psychiatric condition or adverse social circumstance that would preclude study
* No other condition that would preclude study
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective double-barrier contraception during and for at least 3 months after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* No concurrent epoetin alfa, filgrastim (G-CSF), or sargramostim (GM-CSF)
* No other concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy

* No concurrent standard chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

* No concurrent adrenal corticosteroids except low doses as replacement therapy in patients who have previously received suppressive doses or for adrenal insufficiency
* No concurrent systemic hormonal contraceptive agents

Radiotherapy

* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

* Not specified

Other

* At least 30 days since prior investigational therapy other than VEGF Trap
* No concurrent standard or other investigational anticancer agents
* No concurrent herbal supplements ("nutraceuticals")
* No concurrent anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs (e.g., warfarin, heparin, aspirin, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) except selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors for analgesia
* No concurrent COX-2 inhibitors for tumor treatment or prophylaxis