Phase II Study of Fludarabine and Mitoxantrone, Followed by GM-CSF(Granulocyte-macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor) and Rituximab

Study Summary

Patients with a low-grade, or indolent (slow-growing) form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in which the usual survival is between 7-10 years are being asked to take part in this study. Although normally-used combinations of chemotherapy will cause NHL to disappear in 30-40% of patients (called complete response or complete remission), almost all will have their disease return. In this study, researchers tested a combination of anti-cancer agents, fludarabine, rituximab and GM-CSF with mitoxantrone or cyclophosphamide to see if a better and more long-lasting response can be achieved. All of the medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are available on the market. The agents we will use are: * Mitoxantrone and fludarabine and cyclophosphamide and fludarabine are combinations of chemotherapy drugs that have been successfully used to treat NHL/CLL (Chronic lymphocytic leukemia) that has returned after treatment and are comparable options for treatment. * Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody that kills cancer cells by binding the CD20 antigen found on the surface of B-cells, commonly used along with chemotherapy drugs to improve response rates in lymphoma treatment. * GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, also called sargramostim, GM, or Leukine), a growth factor which stimulates the development of new ("stem") cells. GM-CSF encourages stem cells to divide, specialize, and become active. It is not a normal part of treatment for NHL. Using GM-CSF in NHL treatment is the experimental part of this study. The main purpose of this study is to see if giving GM-CSF along with a standard anti-cancer treatment will work better to reduce cancer, and to look at side effects of the treatment.

Primary Outcome

Complete Response (CR): Disappearance of all clinical evidence of active tumor for a minimum of eight weeks and absence of any symptoms related to the tumor. Partial Response (PR):50% decrease in the sum of the product diameters of all lesions that persist for at least four weeks. No lesion can increase in size and no new lesion can appear during this period. Stable disease (SD):A tumor that is neither growing nor shrinking.No new tumors have developed

Interventions

• DRUG Mitoxantrone/Cyclophosphamide, Fludarabine, Rituximab and GM-CSF