Phase II Clinical Trial With Caelyx Mono-Chemotherapy in Patients With Advanced Mycosis Fungoides Stage IIb, IVa and IVb With or Without Previous Chemotherapy

Fecha de inicio: 1 de octubre de 2003

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed mycosis fungoides * Stage IIB, IVA, or IVB * Refractory or recurrent disease after at least 2 of the following prior therapies: * Local and/or systemic steroids * Retinoids * Interferon alfa * Local carmustine * Systemic chemotherapy * Psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) light therapy * No CNS involvement * No erythroderma (T4) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * Over 18 Performance status * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * WBC at least 2,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 75,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular * LVEF normal by echocardiography or radionuclide angiocardiography Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 2 years after study participation * No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude study compliance or follow-up * No active infection requiring specific therapy (e.g., antibiotics or anti-HIV therapy) * No other prior or concurrent primary malignant tumor except adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * See Disease Characteristics * More than 2 weeks since prior immunotherapy Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * Prior systemic chemotherapy allowed provided all of the following conditions are met: * Cumulative anthracycline dose is less than 200 mg/m\^2 * No allergy to anthracyclines * Prior methotrexate is low dose (i.e., weekly dose less than 30 mg) * More than 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * See Disease Characteristics * No concurrent systemic steroids Radiotherapy * More than 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery * Not specified Other * Recovered from toxic effects of prior therapy, excluding alopecia * No other concurrent anticancer therapy