SL-11047 in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically\* confirmed Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of any histology

  * The following NHL types are eligible:

    * Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
    * Follicular lymphoma
    * Mantle Cell lymphoma
    * Marginal zone lymphoma (including lymphoma of mucosa-associated tissue \[MALT\])
    * Anaplastic large cell lymphoma
    * Peripheral T-cell lymphoma
    * Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
    * T/NK cell lymphoma
    * Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy-type T-cell lymphoma
    * Burkitt's lymphoma NOTE: \* If histologic confirmation was made at initial diagnosis, confirmation of relapsed or refractory disease can be made by repeat histologic evaluation OR by evidence of regrowth at a site of disease that was previously histologically confirmed
* Relapsed after or refractory to ≥ 2 prior therapeutic regimens OR patient is ineligible to receive potentially curative therapy
* Bidimensionally measurable or evaluable (e.g., bone marrow or infiltrative organ involvement) disease by physical exam or radiographic study
* No suspicion or evidence of lymphomatous meningitis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks
* ECOG performance status 0-4
* Not pregnant
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use medically prescribed contraception
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mm\^3\*
* Platelet count ≥ 50,000/mm\^3\*
* Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL\*
* Serum creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
* Total bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL\*\*
* Transaminases \< 5 times upper limit of normal\*\*
* No other malignancy within the past 5 years other than curatively treated non-metastatic skin cancer or in situ cervical carcinoma
* No history of significant or symptomatic cardiac arrhythmia
* No history of myocardial infarction
* No significant ventricular conduction abnormality by ECG or Holter monitoring, as evidenced by any of the following:

  * Prior myocardial infarction
  * Three or more premature ventricular contractions in a row
* No history of pancreatitis
* No history of recent gastrointestinal bleeding

  * Must have heme-negative stool at enrollment NOTE: \*Cytopenias due to direct lymphomatous involvement allowed

NOTE: \*\*Elevated due to direct lymphomatous involvement allowed

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy
* Recovered from prior chemotherapy (alopecia or anemia allowed)
* More than 3 weeks since prior investigational drugs
* No prophylactic antiemetics during course 1
* No other concurrent investigational drugs