Levofloxacin to Prevent Infection Following Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Solid Tumors or Lymphoma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Diagnosis of solid tumor, including but not limited to, the following:
• * Stage II-IV germ cell malignancy
• * Small cell lung cancer
• * Recurrent breast cancer OR
• Diagnosis of lymphoma
• About to start a program of antineoplastic chemotherapy for malignant disease that will regularly induce myelosuppression with a risk of temporary severe neutropenia (i.e., neutrophil count less than 500/mm3), but does not routinely require filgrastim (G-CSF) or stem cell support
• Not previously randomized into the Significant trial for a different multicourse chemotherapy program
• Hormone receptor status:
• * Not specified
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 16 and over
• Sex:
• Not specified
• Menopausal status:
• Not specified
• Performance status:
• Not specified
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Hepatic:
• Not specified
• Renal:
• Creatinine normal OR
• Creatinine clearance greater than 40 mL/min
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception in addition to oral contraceptive pills
• HIV negative
• No epilepsy
• No history of adverse events resulting from fluoroquinolone therapy (e.g., allergy or tendinitis)
• No concurrent use of a sunbed or exposure to strong sunlight
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• Not specified
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• No other concurrent antibacterial therapy
• No other concurrent prophylactic antibacterial agents including cotrimoxazole prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii
• No iron supplements, sucralfate, or mineral antacids 2 hours before or after study medication
• Concurrent entry into other clinical trials allowed