Tipifarnib in Treating Patients With Advanced Hematologic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed hematologic malignancy refractory to standard therapy or for which no known effective therapy exists

  * Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

    * Known bone marrow involvement
  * Acute myeloid leukemia
  * Chronic myelogenous leukemia

    * Chronic phase

      * No significant symptoms after treatment
      * No features of accelerated phase or blastic phase
    * Accelerated phase

      * WBC difficult to control with conventional busulfan or hydroxyurea in terms of dose requirement or shortening of intervals between courses
      * Rapid doubling of WBC (less than 5 days)
      * At least 10% blasts in blood or marrow
      * At least 20% blasts plus promyelocytes in blood or marrow
      * At least 20% basophils plus eosinophils in blood
      * Anemia or thrombocytopenia unresponsive to busulfan or hydroxyurea
      * Persistent thrombocytosis
      * Additional chromosome changes
      * Increasing splenomegaly
      * Development of chloromas or myelofibrosis
    * Blastic phase

      * At least 30% blasts plus promyelocytes in blood or bone marrow
  * Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
  * Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
  * Myelodysplastic syndromes

    * Refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB)
    * Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
    * RAEB in transformation
  * Multiple myeloma
  * Chronic myeloproliferative diseases including, but not limited to, myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia
* Measurable or evaluable disease documented by radiographic, hematologic, bone marrow, or clinical examination parameters
* Refusal of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* Karnofsky 60-100%

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
* Albumin at least 2.5 g/dL

Renal:

* Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL

Other:

* No other uncontrolled medical disorder
* No active inflammatory bowel disease, ileus, or other chronic malabsorption syndromes
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas)
* At least 3 days since prior hydroxyurea

Endocrine therapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior systemic steroids for multiple myeloma

Radiotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

* No prior total gastrectomy or total ileocolectomy

Other:

* No prior tipifarnib
* No concurrent proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole)