Tandem Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients With Primary Progressive or Recurrent Hodgkin's Disease (A BMT Study), Phase II

Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed Hodgkin's lymphoma

- Relapsed or refractory disease

- Biopsy or radiological evidence of disease at time of recurrence/progression
required

- Has received ≥ 1 prior systemic chemotherapy regimen

- No clonal abnormalities in marrow collection

- Must undergo involved-field radiotherapy if bulky disease > 5 cm

- Must have adequate sections of original diagnostic specimen available for review

- Needle aspirations or cytologies are not adequate

- No prior lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes, or leukemia (even if disease free > 5
years)

- Patients who relapse after achieving a complete remission must complete a minimum of
2 courses of salvage chemotherapy or radiation therapy to determine if sensitive or
resistant recurrent disease is present

- No central nervous system (CNS) involvement

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- 15 to 70

Performance status

- Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy

- Not specified

Hematopoietic

- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3

Hepatic

- Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless due to Hodgkin's disease)

Renal

- Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min

- Creatinine ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal

Cardiovascular

- None of the following conditions requiring therapy:

- Coronary artery disease

- Cardiomyopathy

- Congestive heart failure

- Arrhythmias

- Ejection fraction ≥ 45% by Multi Gated Acquisition Scan (MUGA) or 2-D echocardiogram

Pulmonary

- Adequate pulmonary function

- Corrected diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) ≥ 60% OR

- Forced Expiratory Volume in One Side (FEV_1) ≥ 60% of predicted

Other

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or
squamous cell skin cancer

- No known HIV or AIDS infection

- No active bacterial, fungal, or viral infection

- No medical condition that would preclude study treatment

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- Not specified

Chemotherapy

- See Disease Characteristics

Endocrine therapy

- Not specified

Radiotherapy

- See Disease Characteristics

Surgery

- Not specified