Ganciclovir Plus Arginine Butyrate in Treating Patients With Cancer or Lymphoproliferative Disorders Associated With the Epstein Barr Virus

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed malignancy or lymphoproliferative disease including the following: * Nasopharyngeal carcinoma * Hodgkin's lymphoma * African Burkitt's lymphoma * T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma * B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma if Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) positive * Other lymphomas associated with immunodeficiency or immunosuppression, including AIDS-related lymphoma * B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders * Monoclonal or oligoclonal B-cell lymphoid disease (no polyclonal disease) * EBV positive by immunohistochemistry or in situ hybridization * Negative serology for EBV allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 3 and over Performance status: * Any status Hematopoietic: * Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 50,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * Aminotransferase less than 2 times normal Renal: * Creatinine less than 3.0 mg/dL * Creatinine clearance greater than 30 mL/min Cardiovascular: * No acute myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No atrial fibrillation within the past 6 months Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Prior bone marrow or stem cell transplantation allowed * No concurrent immunotherapy * No concurrent interferon or tacrolimus Chemotherapy: * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas and mitomycin) and recovered * No concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent steroids Radiotherapy: * Recovered from prior radiotherapy Surgery: * Not specified