RATIONALE: Studying the dendritic cells in samples of blood from patients with cancer receiving aflibercept may help doctors learn about the effect of aflibercept on dendritic cells.

PURPOSE: This laboratory study is evaluating dendritic cells in patients with advanced solid tumors or non-Hodgkin lymphoma receiving aflibercept on clinical trial VGFT-ST-0202.

OBJECTIVES:

• Evaluate the effect of in vivo aflibercept on the presence of different populations of dendritic cells (DC) and immature cells (ImC) in the peripheral blood of cancer patients by characterizing the time course (kinetics) of the improvement in antigen presenting cell (APC) phenotype (decline in DC/ImC ratio) occurring early and late after aflibercept administration.
• Evaluate the effect of aflibercept administration on DC function based on ability to stimulate antigen specific proliferative (allogeneic and tetanus toxoid) and cytolytic T cell responses (influenza) by characterizing the time course (kinetics) of the improvement in APC function occurring early and late after aflibercept administration.
• Explore the relationship of baseline aflibercept level and host APC phenotype.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

Patients undergo phlebotomy and blood collection at baseline and on days 15, 29, and 57. Samples are analyzed for dendritic cell phenotype, subpopulations, maturation status, and function in terms of ability to activate autologous T cells.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of advanced solid tumor or non-Hodgkin lymphoma and enrolled on clinical trial VGFT-ST-0202
• Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL
• Willing to undergo phlebotomy

Exclusion Criteria:

• none listed

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics

Up to 25 patients; three at each dose level achieved in order to gain additional information regarding safety, pharmacokinetics, and biological effect of VEGF Trap given intravenously.

Patients with a solid tumor and is consented and eligible for enrollment onto VGFT-ST-0202. Patients who are willing to undergo phlebotomy prior to treatment, and 14 and 28 and 57 days following initial dose of VEGF-Trap. Patients with an Hgb ≥10gm at the time of blood draw.