Bortezomib in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer and Liver Dysfunction

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically confirmed malignancy for which no known standard therapy that is potentially curative or definitely capable of extending life expectancy exists
* Tumor types may include any of the following: solid tumors:

  * Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
  * Hepatocellular carcinoma, as evidenced by liver mass, elevated alpha-fetoprotein level (\>= 500 ng/mL), and positive serology for hepatitis
* Pathological confirmation is not required
* Confirmatory evidence for a prior Hepatitis B infection (HBsAg, HBcAb and/or HBsAb) required
* No symptomatic CNS metastases
* Brain metastasis allowed if the following criteria are met:

  * Received prior definitive treatment (radiation and/or surgery
  * Stable disease for \>= 4 weeks
  * Not currently on enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants and steroids
* Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks
* Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
* Biliary obstruction for which a shunt has been placed allowed provided the shunt has been in place for \>= 10 days AND liver function is stable, defined as 2 measurements taken \>= 2 days apart that qualify the patient for the same hepatic dysfunction stratum
* No biliary sepsis
* Creatinine =\< 1.5 mg/dL
* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* No unstable angina pectoris
* No cardiac arrhythmia
* No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* No preexisting neuropathy \>= grade 2
* No ongoing or active infection
* No other concurrent uncontrolled illness that would preclude study participation
* No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
* More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
* More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy
* No concurrent prophylactic colony-stimulating factors
* No concurrent immunotherapy
* No concurrent thalidomide
* Concurrent epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa for management of cancer-associated anemia allowed
* Recovered from prior chemotherapy (not including liver function)
* More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)
* No concurrent chemotherapy
* More than 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* No prior radiotherapy to \> 50% of the bone marrow
* No concurrent radiotherapy
* More than 3 weeks since prior surgery
* No prior bortezomib
* No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* Concurrent cytochrome P450 interacting agents are allowed provided they are used with caution
* Concurrent bisphosphonate therapy allowed (e.g., pamidronate or zoledronate), except during course 1 of bortezomib administration
* ECOG 0-2
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 30 days after study participation