Investigation of Safety, Tolerability and Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) of BI 2536 in Patients With Recurrent Advanced Aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), including any of the following subtypes: * B-cell NHL, including any of the following subtypes: * Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma * Primary mediastinal (thymic) B-cell lymphoma * Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma * Immunoblastic B-cell lymphoma * Mantle cell lymphoma * Burkitt's lymphoma * Follicular grade 3b lymphoma * T-cell NHL, including any of the following subtypes: * Anaplastic large cell lymphoma * Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified * De novo or transformed disease * Refractory (i.e., disease not amenable to standard therapy) or relapsed disease, as evidenced by 1 of the following: * Refractory to OR relapsed after ≥ 1 prior combination chemotherapy regimen * Refractory to OR relapsed after prior CD20-based immunotherapy (for patients eligible to receive such therapy) * Refractory after prior high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation AND ≥ 100 days post transplantation * At least 1 bidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 1.5 cm by CT scan, MRI, x-ray, or clinical examination * No active CNS lymphoma PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * At least 3 months Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL * No known coagulopathy Hepatic * ALT and/or AST ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (\< 5 times ULN if due to hepatic lymphoma) * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN Renal * Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL Immunologic * No known HIV infection * No serious active infection that requires IV antibiotics or antifungal or antiviral agents Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective double-method contraception during and for 1 year after completion of study treatment * No known or suspected alcohol or drug abuse * No sensory or motor neuropathy ≥ grade 3 * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer * No other life-threatening illness or organ dysfunction that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * See Disease Characteristics * See Radiotherapy * More than 3 weeks since prior and no concurrent immunotherapy * No prior allogeneic bone marrow transplantation Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * More than 3 weeks since prior and no concurrent chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) Endocrine therapy * No concurrent hormonal therapy Radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy to the only site of measurable disease unless there is documented disease progression after completion of radiotherapy * More than 8 weeks since prior and no concurrent systemic radioimmunotherapy * More than 3 weeks since prior and no concurrent radiotherapy * Concurrent palliative radiotherapy to sites other than the only measurable target lesion allowed for symptom control provided the reason for radiotherapy does not reflect progressive disease Other * No concurrent warfarin for therapeutic anticoagulation