Liposomal Doxorubicin Followed By Bexarotene in Treating Patients With Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma * Stage IB-IV disease * Measurable disease * Newly diagnosed or previously treated disease * No demonstrated resistance to prior bexarotene PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Performance status * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Bilirubin \< 1.5 times ULN Renal * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular * Ejection fraction ≥ 50% by MUGA or 2-D echocardiogram * No New York Heart Association class II-IV heart disease * No clinical evidence of congestive heart failure Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after completion of study treatment * No history of hypersensitivity reactions attributed to doxorubicin HCl liposome or its components * No active potentially life-threatening infection * No other acute disease PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * Prior doxorubicin allowed provided the cumulative dose is ≤ 300 mg/m\^2 * Prior epirubicin hydrochloride allowed provided the cumulative dose is ≤ 540 mg/m\^2