UCN-01 and Prednisone in Treating Patients With Solid Tumors or Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed solid tumor or lymphoma * Progressive disease after standard therapy * No other therapy is likely to improve survival * Prostate cancer patients must have progressed through hormonal therapy with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and withdrawal of testosterone receptor antagonists * Patients must continue on GnRH agonist during study (if orchiectomy has not been performed) and have castrate testosterone levels * Brain metastases allowed if treated and the patient has been stable off anti-seizure medication or steroids for \> 6 months * No local complications from disease requiring urgent therapy (i.e., hydronephrosis, spinal cord compression, or severe pain requiring improved pain management) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * At least 3 months Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3 * 12-hour fasting glucose no greater than 110 mg/dL OR * 12-hour fasting glucose no greater than 140 mg/dL with hemoglobin A1C no greater than 6.5 mg/dL Hepatic * PT/PTT no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times ULN (unless Gilbert's syndrome present) * AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal * Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min OR * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris Pulmonary * No interstitial lung disease within the past year * No requirement for oxygen therapy for hypoxia in the past 6 months Gastrointestinal * No diagnosis of duodenal or gastric ulcer * No severe gastritis within the past 6 months Other * HIV negative * No prior allergic reactions to other indolocarbazoles * No diabetes or hyperglycemia within the past year that required a diabetic diet, oral hypoglycemics, or insulin * No other uncontrolled illness * No active infection * No seizure disorder * No psychiatric illness that would preclude study compliance * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study therapy PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered * No prior UCN-01 Endocrine therapy * See Disease Characteristics * No other concurrent oral or IV steroids Radiotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery * See Disease Characteristics * At least 21 days since prior major surgery Other * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior investigational agents * No other concurrent anticancer therapy