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