DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

  • Stage IB, IIA, IIB, III, or IV
• Measurable or assessable disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL
• WBC at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 70,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN
• Fasting triglyceride normal (normalization with an antilipemic agent is allowed prior to study)
• No severe decompensated liver disease (e.g., cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, or any other significant liver dysfunction)

Renal:

• Calcium no greater than 11.5 mg/dL
• Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

• No myocardial infarction in the past 6 months
• No unstable angina
• No class III or IV congestive heart failure
• No ventricular tachyarrhythmias

Pulmonary:

• No pulmonary infiltrates or clinical pulmonary impairment

Other:

• HIV negative
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use 2 forms of effective contraception for 1 month before, during, and for 1 month after study therapy
• No known allergy or sensitivity to interferon alfa or bexarotene or other components of study drugs
• No uncontrolled thyroid disorder
• No other concurrent serious medical illness that would preclude study
• No infection
• No history of pancreatitis
• No history of neuropsychiatric disorders requiring hospitalization
• No history of autoimmune disease that would pose significant risk
• Must be willing and able to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun or ultraviolet light

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• No concurrent systemic anticancer chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• No concurrent systemic corticosteroids

Radiotherapy:

• No concurrent localized radiotherapy to target lesions unless considered
• to have shown progressive disease

Surgery:

• Not specified

Other:

• At least 30 days since prior systemic doses of more than 15,000 IU per day of vitamin A or any other retinoid class drug
• At least 30 days since prior participation in any other investigational drug study
• No concurrent systemic anti-psoriatic drugs or therapies
• No concurrent systemic other anticancer drugs or therapies
• No concurrent gemfibrozil
• No other concurrent investigational medication