DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed hematologic malignancy refractory to standard therapy or for which no known effective therapy exists

  • Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

    • Known bone marrow involvement
  • Acute myeloid leukemia

  • Chronic myelogenous leukemia

    • Chronic phase

      • No significant symptoms after treatment
      • No features of accelerated phase or blastic phase

    • Accelerated phase

      • WBC difficult to control with conventional busulfan or hydroxyurea in terms of dose requirement or shortening of intervals between courses
      • Rapid doubling of WBC (less than 5 days)
      • At least 10% blasts in blood or marrow
      • At least 20% blasts plus promyelocytes in blood or marrow
      • At least 20% basophils plus eosinophils in blood
      • Anemia or thrombocytopenia unresponsive to busulfan or hydroxyurea
      • Persistent thrombocytosis
      • Additional chromosome changes
      • Increasing splenomegaly
      • Development of chloromas or myelofibrosis

    • Blastic phase

      • At least 30% blasts plus promyelocytes in blood or bone marrow
  • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

  • Myelodysplastic syndromes

    • Refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB)
    • Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
    • RAEB in transformation
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Chronic myeloproliferative diseases including, but not limited to, myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia
• Measurable or evaluable disease documented by radiographic, hematologic, bone marrow, or clinical examination parameters
• Refusal of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• See Disease Characteristics

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• Albumin at least 2.5 g/dL

Renal:

• Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL

Other:

• No other uncontrolled medical disorder
• No active inflammatory bowel disease, ileus, or other chronic malabsorption syndromes
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas)
• At least 3 days since prior hydroxyurea

Endocrine therapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior systemic steroids for multiple myeloma

Radiotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• No prior total gastrectomy or total ileocolectomy

Other:

• No prior tipifarnib
• No concurrent proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole)