Tipifarnib in Treating Patients With Advanced Hematologic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed hematologic malignancy refractory to standard therapy or for which no known effective therapy exists * Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma * Known bone marrow involvement * Acute myeloid leukemia * Chronic myelogenous leukemia * Chronic phase * No significant symptoms after treatment * No features of accelerated phase or blastic phase * Accelerated phase * WBC difficult to control with conventional busulfan or hydroxyurea in terms of dose requirement or shortening of intervals between courses * Rapid doubling of WBC (less than 5 days) * At least 10% blasts in blood or marrow * At least 20% blasts plus promyelocytes in blood or marrow * At least 20% basophils plus eosinophils in blood * Anemia or thrombocytopenia unresponsive to busulfan or hydroxyurea * Persistent thrombocytosis * Additional chromosome changes * Increasing splenomegaly * Development of chloromas or myelofibrosis * Blastic phase * At least 30% blasts plus promyelocytes in blood or bone marrow * Acute lymphoblastic leukemia * Chronic lymphocytic leukemia * Myelodysplastic syndromes * Refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB) * Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia * RAEB in transformation * Multiple myeloma * Chronic myeloproliferative diseases including, but not limited to, myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia * Measurable or evaluable disease documented by radiographic, hematologic, bone marrow, or clinical examination parameters * Refusal of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Karnofsky 60-100% Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * Albumin at least 2.5 g/dL Renal: * Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL Other: * No other uncontrolled medical disorder * No active inflammatory bowel disease, ileus, or other chronic malabsorption syndromes * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy Chemotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) * At least 3 days since prior hydroxyurea Endocrine therapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior systemic steroids for multiple myeloma Radiotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: * No prior total gastrectomy or total ileocolectomy Other: * No prior tipifarnib * No concurrent proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole)