RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die.

PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of tretinoin in treating patients who have any stage mycosis fungoides or Sezary syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the efficacy of tretinoin (TRA) in patients with mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome. II. Evaluate the spectrum of toxicity of TRA in this patient population.

OUTLINE: Nonrandomized study. Single-agent Chemotherapy. Tretinoin, All-trans-Retinoic Acid, TRA, NSC-122758.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: If 1 or more of the first 15 evaluable patients experience an objective response, then 20 additional patients will be entered. It is anticipated that the accrual rate will be 1-2 patients per month.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Biopsy-proven mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome Stage I-IV disease No CNS involvement At least 1 measurable lesion required (skin, lymph nodes, visceral lesion, or peripheral blood counts)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: ECOG 0-3 Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 75,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no more than 2.0 mg/dL Transaminases no more than 2 x normal Alkaline phosphatase no more than 2 x normal Renal: Creatinine no more than 2.0 mg/dL Other: No active systemic infection No significant organ failure uncontrolled with medication No pregnant or lactating women Effective contraception required of fertile women

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior systemic therapy Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior topical chemotherapeutics or systemic therapy Endocrine therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior topical (including steroid) therapy or systemic therapy Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Not specified