DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• 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

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic

• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• See Disease Characteristics
• 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

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 30 days after study participation
• 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

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• 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

Chemotherapy

• Recovered from prior chemotherapy (not including liver function)
• More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)
• No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy to > 50% of the bone marrow
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 3 weeks since prior surgery

Other

• 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 zolendronate), except during course 1 of bortezomib administration