S0355 Ixabepilone in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors or Lymphomas and Liver Dysfunction

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed solid tumor or lymphoma for which standard curative or palliative measures do not exist or are no longer effective * Pathological confirmation of diagnosis not required in patients with liver mass, raised alpha-fetoprotein levels (at least 500 ng/mL), and positive serology for hepatitis consistent with a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma * Any solid tumor or lymphoma tumor type eligible * Must have had thoracic and upper abdominal CT scan, including entire liver and adrenals, within 28 days before study entry * Patients with glioma or brain metastases must be on a stable dose of corticosteroids and be seizure-free for the past month * Prior whole brain or gamma knife radiotherapy required for known brain metastases * No unstable or untreated (non-irradiated) brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * No active hemolysis Hepatic * See Disease Characteristics * Patients with biliary obstruction for which a shunt has been placed are allowed if shunt is in place for at least 10 days and liver function is stable * Abnormal liver function (bilirubin and SGOT) allowed regardless of cause (metastases or other causes) * No evidence of biliary sepsis Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia Other * No concurrent uncontrolled illness * No ongoing or active infection * No uncontrolled diarrhea * No peripheral neuropathy grade II or greater * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * HIV negative * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No concurrent immunotherapy for malignancy Chemotherapy * More than 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) * No other concurrent chemotherapy for malignancy Endocrine therapy * See Disease Characteristics * No concurrent oral contraceptives * No concurrent hormone therapy for malignancy * Concurrent luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists allowed Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * No concurrent radiotherapy for malignancy Surgery * More than 2 weeks since prior major surgery Other * Recovered from prior therapy * No concurrent medications that are known to be inhibitors of CYP3A4