Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically proven non-Hodgkin's disease that has failed both prior high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

WBC greater than 2,000/mm^3
Platelet count greater than 20,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

No hypertension
No history of congestive heart failure
No history of other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Other:

Not pregnant or nursing
Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation
No serious active infections

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered
No concurrent immunomodulatory agents (e.g., interferon or interleukin-2)

Chemotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior corticosteroids
No concurrent corticosteroids

Radiotherapy:

At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

Not specified

Other:

No prior antineoplaston therapy
No other concurrent antineoplastic agents
No concurrent antibiotics, antifungals, or antivirals