MS-275 and Isotretinoin in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Advanced Solid Tumors or Lymphomas

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed solid tumor or lymphoma * Metastatic, progressive, refractory, or unresectable disease * Not amenable to standard curative measures * No known brain metastases * Performance status - ECOG 0-2 * More than 3 months * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin \> 9 g/dL * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN * No suspected Gilbert's syndrome * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No unstable cardiac arryhthmia * Able to take and retain oral medications * No malabsorption problems * No acute or chronic gastrointestinal condition * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective double-method contraception 1 month before, during, and 3 months after study treatment * No known HIV positivity * No weight loss \> 10% within the past 2 months * No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to MS-275 or isotretinoin * No other uncontrolled illness * No ongoing or active infection * No seizure disorder * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study participation * More than 4 weeks since prior anticancer vaccine therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior anticancer immunotherapy * No concurrent anticancer vaccine therapy * No concurrent anticancer immunotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior anticancer chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas, mitomycin, or other agents known to cause prolonged marrow supression) * No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior anticancer hormonal therapy except gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist therapy for non-castrated patients with prostate cancer * Concurrent GnRH agonist therapy for non-castrated patients with prostate cancer allowed * Concurrent luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist therapy allowed provided there is evidence of tumor progression * Concurrent adrenal steroid replacement therapy allowed * No concurrent ketoconazole as second-line hormonal treatment for prostate cancer * No concurrent corticosteroids except for treatment of refractory nausea or vomiting * No other concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior anticancer radiotherapy * More than 2 weeks since prior palliative radiotherapy * No concurrent anticancer radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery * Recovered from all prior therapy * No prior MS-275 * No prior oral isotretinoin * Isotretinoin for the treatment of acne allowed provided \> 3 years since prior administration * More than 4 weeks since other prior anticancer therapy * No concurrent tetracycline * No concurrent high-dose vitamin A * No concurrent valproic acid * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent anticancer therapy