BCX-1777 in Treating Patients With Refractory Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) * Any stage except IA patch only * Previously treated according to 1 of the following: * Stage IA plaque, IB, or IIA: * At least 4 prior conventional and/or experimental regimens (topical or systemic, including psoralen-ultraviolet light \[PUVA\] and systemic corticosteroids) * Stage IIB, III, or IV: * At least 1 prior systemic regimen (systemic corticosteroids and PUVA do not count as systemic regimens for this purpose) NOTE: Repeated use of the same regimen is considered one regimen * Measurable disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-3 Life expectancy * At least 3 months Hematopoietic * Granulocyte count at least 2,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 75,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10.0 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless due to Gilbert's syndrome) * ALT no greater than 2 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN * No hepatitis B or C Renal * Creatinine clearance at least 45 mL/min Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * HIV negative * Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) negative * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No other illness that would limit study participation * No active serious infection not controlled by antibiotics PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No concurrent anticancer antibody therapy * No concurrent anticancer immunotherapy * No concurrent anticancer gene therapy * No concurrent anticancer vaccine therapy * No concurrent anticancer angiogenesis inhibitors * No concurrent sargramostim (GM-CSF) * No concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF) during course 1 of therapy Chemotherapy * More than 21 days since prior chemotherapy unless fully recovered * No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * See Disease Characteristics * More than 2 weeks since prior topical corticosteroids * No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy Radiotherapy * More than 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * Not specified Other * More than 2 weeks since prior antineoplastic therapy * More than 21 days since prior investigational agents unless fully recovered * No concurrent citrate-blood products within 30 minutes before or after study treatment * No concurrent anticancer matrix metalloprotease inhibitors * No other concurrent anti-CTCL therapy * No concurrent use of tanning beds * No other concurrent investigational agents