Perifosine in Treating Patients With Refractory Solid Tumors or Hematologic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed solid tumor, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, or Hodgkin's lymphoma that has no effective standard therapeutic option but requires systemic therapy
No history of CNS neoplasms

For prostate cancer:

Tumor progression during blockade of testicular and adrenal androgens
At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide or other antiandrogens without disease improvement
Leuprolide or other gonadotropin-releasing hormones should be maintained in patients without an orchiectomy
Testosterone in the castrate range

For breast cancer:

At least 4 weeks since any prior hormonal therapy with evidence of disease progression

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

Over 18

Performance status:

ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

Not specified

Hematopoietic:

Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm^3
Absolute granulocyte count greater than 500/mm^3
Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2.5 times normal

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

No history of unstable or newly diagnosed angina pectoris
No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
No New York Heart Association class II-IV heart disease

Other:

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
HIV negative
No recent acute or chronic gastrointestinal conditions (e.g., stomach ulcer or enteritis) that might affect tolerability or drug absorption
No allergic reaction to any medication with a structure similar to perifosine
No pre-existing retinal disease or pathologic baseline electrooculogram
No cataracts that would interfere with normal vision or require medical intervention
No other serious concurrent illness that would preclude assessment of drug effect

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

Not specified

Chemotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered
At least 2 months since prior UCN-01
More than 3 months since prior suramin

Endocrine therapy:

See Disease Characteristics
No concurrent corticosteroids except for physiological replacement or as antiemetics

Radiotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (6 weeks for bone-seeking radioisotopes) and recovered

Surgery:

See Disease Characteristics

Other:

No other concurrent antineoplastic therapies