MS-275 in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors or Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed malignancy that is metastatic or unresectable and for which no effective standard curative or palliative therapy exists * Brain metastases allowed provided both of the following criteria are met: * Received treatment for the brain metastases * Stable for ≥ 6 months without steroids or antiseizure medications PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 OR * Karnofsky 50-100% Life expectancy: * More than 3 months Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (≤ 3 mg/dL for patients with Gilbert's syndrome) * AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN * Albumin at least 75% of lower limit of normal Renal: * Creatinine normal OR * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: * Cardiac ejection fraction normal by MUGA * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Adequate oral intake * No weight loss of more than 10% of actual body weight within the past 2 months * No history of allergic reaction to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to study drug * No other uncontrolled illness * No ongoing or active infection * No seizure disorder * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No acute or chronic gastrointestinal conditions (e.g., peptic ulcer or colitis) within the past 2 months that would interfere with drug tolerance or absorption * Willing and able to self-administer and document doses of MS-275 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior anticancer vaccine therapy and recovered * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior anticancer chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered * At least 8 weeks since prior UCN-01 and recovered * No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior anticancer hormonal therapy (except gonadotropin-releasing hormone \[GnRH\] agonists) and recovered * Concurrent corticosteroids for physiological replacement, as antiemetic therapy, or for an ongoing condition allowed * Must be on a stable dose during the past 4 weeks * No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy except GnRH agonists for noncastrated patients with prostate cancer Radiotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior anticancer radiotherapy and recovered * No concurrent radiotherapy * Concurrent localized radiotherapy to a single lesion allowed if the patient achieves at least a partial response Surgery: * At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery Other: * No other concurrent investigational or commercial antineoplastic therapies