RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as hA20, can block cancer growth in different ways. Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Others find cancer cells and help kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them.

PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of monoclonal antibody hA20 in treating patients with refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin''''s lymphoma.

OBJECTIVES: Primary

• Determine the safety and tolerability of monoclonal antibody hA20 in patients with refractory CD20-positive follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin''''s lymphoma.
• Determine the immunogenicity of this drug in these patients.

Secondary

• Determine the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of this drug in these patients.
• Determine, preliminarily, the efficacy of this drug in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation, multicenter study.

Patients receive monoclonal antibody hA20 IV once weekly for 4 weeks.

Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of monoclonal antibody hA20 until the optimal dose is determined. Up to 10 additional patients are treated at the optimal dose.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed weekly for 4 weeks, at 8 and 12 weeks, and then every 3 months until disease progression.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 19-28 patients will be accrued for this study.

Ages Eligible for Study:  18 Years and above,  Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed B-cell non-Hodgkin''''s lymphoma (NHL)
• Any grade allowed
• CD20-positive disease
• Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 bidimensionally measurable lesion > 1.5 cm by CT scan
• Failed ≥ 1 prior standard chemotherapy regimen OR rituximab therapy for NHL

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age

• Over 18

Performance status

• ECOG 0-1 OR
• Karnofsky 80-100%

Life expectancy

• At least 6 months

Hematopoietic

• Hemoglobin > 10 g/dL*
• Absolute neutrophil count > 1,500/mm^3*
• Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3* NOTE: *Transfusion independent

Hepatic

• Bilirubin < 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST and ALT < 2.5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine < 1.5 times ULN

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 12 months since prior rituximab

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior investigational or conventional chemotherapy and recovered

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• Recovered from prior investigational or conventional radiotherapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to the index lesion

Surgery

• Recovered from prior investigational or conventional surgery