DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed diffuse or mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma*, meeting the following criteria:

  • Advanced or metastatic disease
  • Incurable by standard therapies
  • Relapsed or refractory disease NOTE: *Patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma whose disease has transformed from an earlier diagnosis of low grade lymphoma (i.e., an indolent histology) are eligible

• Bidimensionally measurable disease** by CT scan, MRI, or physical exam, with ≥ 1 disease site meeting 1 of the following criteria:

  • Lymph nodes ≥ 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm by spiral CT scan
  • Non-nodal regions ≥ 1 cm x 1 cm by MRI, CT scan, or physical exam NOTE: **Bone lesions are not considered bidimensionally measurable disease

• Received 1-2 prior chemotherapy regimens that included doxorubicin hydrochloride

  • Prior stem cell transplantation and high-dose chemotherapy is considered one regimen

  • One prior nonchemotherapy regimen in the form of radiation allowed

    • Measurable disease must be outside the previously irradiated area
    • No sole site of disease in a previously irradiated area unless progressive disease or new lesions are documented
    • Low-dose palliative radiotherapy may be allowed
• No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks
• ECOG performance status 0-1
• Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin normal
• Calcium ≤ 3 mmol/L
• Creatinine ≤ 1.25 times ULN OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
• LVEF normal by MUGA

• None of the following in the past 12 months:

  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
  • Coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft or stenting
  • Myocardial infarction
  • Stable or unstable angina
  • Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  • Transient ischemic attack
  • Pulmonary embolism
• No uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mm Hg)
• No New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV heart disease
• No QTc prolongation (QTc interval ≥ 500 msec) or other significant ECG abnormalities
• No other prior malignancies except nonmelanoma skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, or other solid tumors curatively treated with no evidence of disease for ≥ 5 years
• No history of allergic reaction to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to sunitinib malate

• No other serious illness or medical condition that would preclude study participation, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Active, uncontrolled infection
  • Serious or nonhealing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
  • History of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorder that would impair the ability to obtain consent or limit compliance
  • Other medical condition that might be aggravated by treatment
• No abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 28 days
• No bowel obstruction

• No condition that would impair the ability to swallow and retain sunitinib malate tablets, including any of the following:

  • Gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in inability to take oral medication or a requirement for IV alimentation
  • Prior surgical procedures affecting absorption
  • Active peptic ulcer disease
• No pre-existing hypothyroidism unless euthyroid on medication
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 28 days since prior chemotherapy

• At least 28 days since prior radiotherapy and recovered

  • Radiotherapy must have involved < 30% of functioning bone marrow
• At least 28 days since prior major surgery and recovered

• At least 12 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers, including any of the following:

  • Rifampin
  • Phenytoin
  • Rifabutin
  • Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
  • Carbamazepine
  • Efavirenz
  • Phenobarbital
  • Tipranavir

• At least 7 days since prior and concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors, including any of the following:

  • Azole antifungals (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole)
  • Verapamil
  • Clarithromycin
  • HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., indinavir, saquinavir, ritonavir, atazanavir, nelfinavir)
  • Erythromycin
  • Delavirdine
  • Diltiazem

• No prior therapy with other antiangiogenic agents or multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including any of the following:

  • Bevacizumab
  • Sorafenib tosylate
  • Pazopanib
  • Thalidomide
  • AZD2171
  • Vandetanib
  • AMG 706
  • Vatalanib
  • VEGF Trap

• No concurrent therapeutic doses of coumarin-derivative anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin)

  • Concurrent dosing of ≤ 2 mg of warfarin daily for prophylaxis of thrombosis is allowed
  • Concurrent low molecular weight heparin is allowed provided INR is ≤ 1.5
• No other concurrent anticancer treatments, including investigational agents

• No concurrent agents with proarrhythmic potential, including any of the following:

  • Terfenadine
  • Quinidine
  • Procainamide
  • Disopyramide
  • Sotalol
  • Probucol
  • Bepridil
  • Haloperidol
  • Risperidone
  • Indapamide
  • Flecainide
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients