Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide, and Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Thalidomide may stop the growth of lymphoma by blocking blood flow to the cancer. Giving fludarabine and cyclophosphamide together with thalidomide may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving fludarabine and cyclophosphamide together with thalidomide works in treating patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.