This partially randomized clinical trial studies cholecalciferol in improving survival in patients with newly diagnosed cancer with vitamin D insufficiency. Vitamin D replacement may improve tumor response and survival and delay time to treatment in patients with cancer who are vitamin D insufficient.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine if vitamin D replacement in vitamin D insufficient patients with newly diagnosed untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) can improve event free survival at 12 months to be equivalent to that of a control population of vitamin D sufficient patients. (Study I) II. To assess the percentage of patients requiring treatment with conventional therapy at 36 in months in vitamin D insufficient patients with early stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) being managed with observation who undergo vitamin D replacement. (Study II)

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess the effect of vitamin D replacement in vitamin D insufficient patients with newly diagnosed untreated DLBCL on overall survival. (Study I) II. To assess the effect of vitamin D replacement in vitamin D insufficient patients with newly diagnosed untreated DLBCL on event free survival. (Study I) III. To assess the effect of vitamin D replacement in vitamin D insufficient patients with newly diagnosed untreated T cell lymphoma on event free and overall survival. (Study I) IV. To assess the effect of vitamin D replacement in vitamin D insufficient CLL patients on Bio-r response rate and overall response rate. (Study II) V. To assess time to treatment and overall survival in vitamin D insufficient CLL patients who received vitamin D replacement. (Study II)

TERTIARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To study immune effector cells (lymphocytes, monocytes), serum cytokines, and tumor cells from vitamin D deficient and sufficient patients to learn the effects of vitamin D on both tumor cells and the patient's immune system. (Study I-II)

OUTLINE:

Vitamin D sufficient patients receive no intervention. Vitamin D insufficient patients receive cholecalciferol orally (PO) once weekly for 12 weeks and then once monthly for a total of 36 months.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for 2 years.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Newly diagnosed aggressive lymphoma or CLL/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) that meets disease specific criteria below:

• Study 1 - Aggressive lymphoma

  • Newly diagnosed de-novo DLBCL or primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma that will be treated with an anthracycline-containing regimen (rituximab-cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, prednisone [R-CHOP] or equivalent); patients with composite lymphomas can also be enrolled as long as they have large cell component and will be treated with an anthracycline; in addition, patients with "B cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma" or post-transplant DLBCL are also eligible as long as they meet other criteria; patients with typical Burkitt lymphoma are not eligible

    • NOTE: patients can be enrolled up through day 1 of cycle 3 of therapy; the patient is permitted to participate in any other therapeutic therapy for their disease as long as it does not concern vitamin D; patients can begin their chemotherapy while awaiting vitamin D results and treatment arm assignment or

  • Newly diagnosed untreated peripheral T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that will be treated with chemotherapy; NOTE: patients can be enrolled up through day 1 of cycle 3 of therapy; this includes the following disease types:

    • Peripheral T cell lymphoma, unspecified
    • Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (T and null cell type)
    • Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type
    • Enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma
    • Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma
    • Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma
    • Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma
    • Anaplastic large cell lymphoma - primary cutaneous type and

  • Willing to provide tissue for correlative research purposes

• Study 2 - CLL/SLL

  • Newly diagnosed (< 12 months from pre-registration on this study) CLL according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) criteria or SLL according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria; this includes previous documentation of:

    • Biopsy-proven small lymphocytic lymphoma

    • Diagnosis of CLL according to NCI working group criteria as evidenced by all of the following:

      • Peripheral blood lymphocyte count of > 5,000/mm^3; if present, prolymphocytes should be < 55%

      • Immunophenotyping consistent with CLL defined as:

        • The predominant population of lymphocytes share both B-cell antigens (cluster of differentiation [CD]19, CD20, or CD23) as well as CD5 in the absence of other pan-T-cell markers (CD3, CD2, etc.)
        • Dim surface immunoglobulin expression
        • Restricted surface kappa or lambda light chain expression

      • Before diagnosing CLL or SLL, mantle cell lymphoma must be excluded by demonstrating a negative fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis for t(11;14)(immunoglobulin H [IgH]/cyclin D 1 [CCND1]) on peripheral blood or tissue biopsy or negative immunohistochemical stains for cyclin D1 on involved tissue biopsy

  • Rai stage 0 or 1

  • Previously untreated

  • Asymptomatic with the plan for observation

  • Life expectancy of at least 24 months

  • Willing to provide tissue for correlative research purposes

• Both Studies:

• Capable of swallowing intact study medication capsules

• Serum calcium < 11 mg/dL; note: patients with hypercalcemia can be enrolled after the calcium is corrected with standard of care treatments

• Willing to return to enrolling institution for follow-up (during the active monitoring phase of the study)

  • Note: During the Active Monitoring Phase of a study (i.e., active treatment and observation), participants must be willing to return to the consenting institution for follow-up

• Willing to provide blood samples for correlative research purposes

• Vitamin D level (25 hydroxy D2 + hydroxyl D3) confirmed by central laboratory review

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with Burkitt lymphoma or any patient receiving rituximab-cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, high-dose methotrexate / ifosfamide, etoposide, high-dose cytarabine (R- CODOXM/IVAC)
• Patients who previously had indolent lymphoma and now at a separate episode have large cell NHL (i.e. transformation