Inclusion Criteria

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