Bortezomib in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer and Kidney Dysfunction

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologic proof of malignancy (including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma) * Patients must have measurable or evaluable disease; patients with reliable tumor markers (as determined by protocol chairman) are eligible for participation * ANC \>= 1000/uL * PLT \>= 50,000/uL * Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST =\< 2.5 x ULN or AST =\< 5 x ULN if liver involvement * Patients with abnormal kidney function will be allowed and will be grouped accordingly * Willingness to return to treating institution for follow-up * Life expectancy \>= 12 weeks * Willingness to provide all biologic specimens as required by the protocol Exclusion Criteria: * Known standard therapy for the patient's disease that is potentially curative or definitely capable of extending life expectancy * ECOG performance status (PS) 3 or 4 * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including but not limited to ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Any of the following prior therapies: * Chemotherapy ≤ 4 weeks * Mitomycin C/nitrosoureas ≤ 6 weeks * Immunotherapy ≤ 4 weeks * Biologic therapy ≤ 4 weeks * Radiation therapy ≤ 2 weeks * Radiation to \> 50 % of bone marrow (excepting patients who have had total body irradiation incorporated into bone marrow or stem cell transplantation; all other eligibility criteria still apply) * PS-341 treatment * Failure to fully recover from effects of prior chemotherapy regardless of interval since last treatment (excludes renal function) * New York Heart Association classification III or IV * Symptomatic CNS metastases; patients who have received definitive treatment for brain metastases (radiation and/or surgery) and are stable for \>= 8 weeks are eligible; eligible patients with brain metastases should not be taking enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants and should be receiving stable doses of steroids * Any of the following: * Pregnant women * Nursing women * Men or women of childbearing potential who are unwilling to employ adequate contraception (condoms, diaphragm, birth control pills, injections, intrauterine device \[IUD\], or abstinence, etc.) * This study involves an investigational agent whose genotoxic, mutagenic and teratogenic effects on the developing fetus and newborn are unknown * Other concurrent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiotherapy * HIV-positive patients receiving anti-retroviral therapy (HAART); there is a potential for pharmacokinetic interactions * Concurrent use of other investigational agent (including thalidomide); bisphosphonate therapy (e.g. pamidronate or zoledronate) will not be considered investigational agents for the purpose of trial eligibility * Pre-existing grade \>= 2 neuropathy