DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed advanced solid tumor or lymphoma that has failed standard therapy and no standard options available No leukemia or myeloma CNS lesions allowed if adequately treated by surgery and/or radiotherapy and symptomatically stable on maintenance glucocorticoids and not requiring anticonvulsants for at least 3 months

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: SGOT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No acute ischemia or significant conduction abnormality (i.e., bifascicular block or 2nd or 3rd degree AV blocks) Other: No other serious medical or psychiatric illness Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior bone marrow transplantation with high-dose chemotherapy or radiolabeled monoclonal antibody therapy for lymphoma patients Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks since nitrosoureas) Endocrine therapy: See Disease Characteristics Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery Other: See Disease Characteristics No concurrent antiretroviral therapy