Bortezomib in Treating Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma That Is Refractory To Chemotherapy

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, meeting criteria for 1 of the following: * Relapsed after prior high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell support * Relapsed after prior chemotherapy, including at least 1 prior standard non-Hodgkin's chemotherapy regimen, but not a candidate for high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell support * Measurable disease * At least 1 bidimensionally measurable lesion at least 1.5 cm by CT scan * No primary or secondary CNS lymphoma * No HIV-related lymphoma * No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 OR * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy * More than 3 months Hematopoietic * Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm\^3 * No colony-stimulating factors within 4 weeks before obtaining this result * Platelet count at least 50,000/mm\^3 * No platelet transfusion within 4 weeks before obtaining this result Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN * No active hepatitis B or C viral infection Renal * Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN OR * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No evidence of acute ischemia or new conduction system abnormalities on EKG * 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 * Sodium greater than 130 mEq/L * HIV negative * No ongoing or active infection * No other concurrent uncontrolled illness that would preclude study participation * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No prior allergic reaction attributable to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to bortezomib PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * See Disease Characteristics * See Chemotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy * More than 12 weeks since prior high-dose chemotherapy with hematopoietic stem cell support Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery unless fully recovered Other * Recovered from prior therapy * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies to treat the malignancy