Biomarkers in Blood Samples From Patients With HIV Infection and Stage III or Stage IV Hodgkin Lymphoma Undergoing Chemotherapy

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

- To quantify HIV-1 persistence in prospectively collected samples from patients on
suppressive antiretroviral therapy undergoing chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

Blood samples are collected before, during, and after treatment for lymphoma for HIV-1 RNA
levels using standard and single copy assays and HIV-1 DNA quantification (peripheral blood
mononuclear cells).

After completion of treatment, patients are followed up periodically for up to 2 years.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- HIV-1 infection, as documented by a rapid HIV test or any FDA-approved HIV-1 enzyme
or chemiluminescence immunoassay (E/CIA) test kit and confirmed by western blot at
any time prior to study entry

- Documentation may be serologic (positive ELISA and positive western blot), or
other federally approved licensed HIV diagnostic test

- Prior documentation of HIV seropositivity is acceptable

- Diagnosis of untreated Hodgkin lymphoma and participation in the parent protocol
SWOG-S0816, "A Phase II Trial of Response Adapted Therapy of Stage III-IV Hodgkin
Lymphoma Using Early Interim FDG-PET Imaging."

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- No psychosocial conditions that would prevent study compliance and follow-up, as
determined by the principal investigator

- Willing to provide serial blood samples

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics