17-N-Allylamino-17-Demethoxygeldanamycin in Treating Patients With Solid Tumors That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * One of the following diagnoses: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed solid tumor\* * Unresectable disease * Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma * Relapsed disease * Failed at least 1 prior therapy * Neoplastic cells are accessible through biopsy NOTE: \*Only patients with biopsy-accessible superficial tumors or lymphoma are eligible once the maximum tolerated dose has been determined * No known standard therapy that is potentially curative or definitely capable of extending life expectancy exists * No CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver involvement) Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.25 times ULN OR * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective nonhormonal contraception * No uncontrolled infection * No seizure disorder * No history of serious allergic reaction to eggs PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy * No concurrent immunotherapy * No concurrent routine or prophylactic use of a colony-stimulating factor (e.g., filgrastim \[G-CSF\] or sargramostim \[GM-CSF\]) Chemotherapy: * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) and recovered from acute and reversible toxic effects * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent birth control pills * No concurrent steroids as anti-emetics Radiotherapy: * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of the bone marrow * No prior radiopharmaceuticals * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * Not specified Other: * No concurrent 3A4 enzyme inhibitors (e.g., verapamil, erythromycin, miconazole, or ketoconazole) * No concurrent investigational ancillary therapy * No concurrent enrollment in another study involving a pharmacologic agent (e.g., drugs, biologics, immunotherapy approaches, or gene therapy) for symptom control or therapeutic intent