Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically proven malignancy diagnosed at any time following confirmation of
HIV-positivity, including the following:

- Leukemia

- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

- CNS lymphoma

- Other solid tumors

- Measurable disease

- Concurrent registration on protocol POG-9182 required

- Confirmed HIV-positive by POG-9182 criteria

- Required biology studies completed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 21 and under

Performance status:

- Not specified

Life expectancy:

- More than 4 weeks

Hematopoietic:

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 (unless bone marrow involvement present)

Hepatic:

- See Disease Characteristics

- Bilirubin less than 1.5 times normal

- SGPT and SGOT less than 2 times normal (may discuss with Study Coordinator)

Renal:

- Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

- Adequate cardiac function by echocardiogram/MUGA scan

Other:

- Chronically infected patients must be stable enough to meet life expectancy
requirement

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- No prior interferon for cancer

- Prior interferon alfa for viral infections (i.e., hepatitis) must be discussed with
Study Coordinator

Chemotherapy:

- At least 1 week since prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- At least 1 week since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

- Not specified

Other:

- Prior antiretroviral therapy allowed

- At least 1 week since prior acute treatment for any serious or life-threatening
infection

- No concurrent local treatment unless discussed with the Study Coordinator

- No concurrent acute treatment for any serious or life-threatening infection

- Concurrent antiretroviral therapy allowed