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