Beta Alethine in Treating Patients With Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Confirmed diagnosis of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia
• Urine or serum protein electrophoresis showing a measurable monoclonal spike
• Indolent disease not yet requiring therapy allowed
• Positive delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response
• Induration greater than 2 mm for at least 1 antigen
• No clinical signs or evidence of active brain involvement or leptomeningeal disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 50-100%

Life expectancy:

• At least 4 months

Hematopoietic:

• Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
• Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL

Hepatic:

• Albumin at least 3.5 g/dL
• Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL
• Transaminases no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

• No acute changes on EKG
• No uncontrolled angina
• No heart failure
• No arrhythmia

Other:

• Adequate nutritional intake as evidenced by total protein at least 60 g/L
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No concurrent gastrointestinal bleed
• No active bacterial infections such as abscess or with fistulae
• HIV negative
• No other concurrent non-malignant disease that would preclude study
• No history of alcoholism, drug addiction, or psychotic disorders that would preclude follow-up

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior cytokines
• More than 4 weeks since prior plasmapheresis or plasma exchange
• No prior stem cell or bone marrow transplant

Chemotherapy:

• More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas, mitomycin, or high-dose carboplatin)
• No prior intensive chemotherapy with stem cell support

Endocrine therapy:

• More than 4 weeks since prior corticosteroids
• No concurrent corticosteroids

Radiotherapy:

• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy involving more than 25% of bone marrow

Surgery:

• Recovered from any prior surgery
• No prior organ transplant

Other:

• No other concurrent investigational agent
• No concurrent immunosuppressants
• No concurrent anti-inflammatory agents including aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents