UCN-01 and Prednisone in Treating Patients With Solid Tumors or Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed solid tumor or lymphoma

Progressive disease after standard therapy
No other therapy is likely to improve survival

Prostate cancer patients must have progressed through hormonal therapy with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and withdrawal of testosterone receptor antagonists

Patients must continue on GnRH agonist during study (if orchiectomy has not been performed) and have castrate testosterone levels
Brain metastases allowed if treated and the patient has been stable off anti-seizure medication or steroids for > 6 months
No local complications from disease requiring urgent therapy (i.e., hydronephrosis, spinal cord compression, or severe pain requiring improved pain management)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

18 and over

Performance status

ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

At least 3 months

Hematopoietic

Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm^3
Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3
12-hour fasting glucose no greater than 110 mg/dL OR
12-hour fasting glucose no greater than 140 mg/dL with hemoglobin A1C no greater than 6.5 mg/dL

Hepatic

PT/PTT no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times ULN (unless Gilbert's syndrome present)
AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal

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

Cardiovascular

No symptomatic congestive heart failure
No unstable angina pectoris

Pulmonary

No interstitial lung disease within the past year
No requirement for oxygen therapy for hypoxia in the past 6 months

Gastrointestinal

No diagnosis of duodenal or gastric ulcer
No severe gastritis within the past 6 months

Other

HIV negative
No prior allergic reactions to other indolocarbazoles
No diabetes or hyperglycemia within the past year that required a diabetic diet, oral hypoglycemics, or insulin
No other uncontrolled illness
No active infection
No seizure disorder
No psychiatric illness that would preclude study compliance
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study therapy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

Not specified

Chemotherapy

At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered
No prior UCN-01

Endocrine therapy

See Disease Characteristics
No other concurrent oral or IV steroids

Radiotherapy

At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery

See Disease Characteristics
At least 21 days since prior major surgery

Other

See Disease Characteristics
At least 4 weeks since prior investigational agents
No other concurrent anticancer therapy