FR901228 in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of 1 of the following subtypes: * Mantle cell lymphoma * Diffuse large cell lymphoma * (Ineligible for or unwilling to undergo stem cell transplantation) * Relapsed or refractory disease: * Any number of prior therapies allowed for relapsed disease, including peripheral blood stem cell or bone marrow transplantation * No more than 2 prior regimens, excluding monotherapy with monoclonal antibody or radiotherapy, for refractory disease * Measurable disease, defined as \>= 1 lesion \>= 1.5 cm in the longest diameter * No transformed lymphoma, defined as the transformation of a low-grade lymphoma, including follicular lymphoma or small lymphocytic lymphoma, to a high-grade lymphoma (e.g., diffuse large cell lymphoma) * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,000/mm\^3 OR \>= 500/mm\^3 if extensive bone marrow involvement (\> 50%) or hypersplenism with palpable splenomegaly * Platelet count \>= 75,000/mm\^3 OR \>= 50,000/mm\^3 if extensive bone marrow involvement (\> 50%) or hypersplenism with palpable splenomegaly * Bilirubin normal * Alkaline phosphatase =\< 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST =\< 2 times ULN * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No significant cardiac disease, including New York Heart Association class III-IV congestive heart failure * No history of serious ventricular arrhythmia * QTc \< 500 msec * No evidence of cardiac hypertrophy on ECG * No known HIV positivity * No other uncontrolled serious medical condition or active infection (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes) * Recovered from prior therapy * No prior doxorubicin hydrochloride \>= 450 mg/m\^2 or mitoxantrone \>= 112 mg/m\^2 (Patients who received both mitoxantrone and doxorubicin hydrochloride should have a "doxorubicin equivalent dose" \< 450 mg/m\^2 * No prior therapy with a histone deacetylase inhibitor * No concurrent dexamethasone or prednisone except for refractory nausea/vomiting * No concurrent drugs associated with QTc prolongation (e.g., dolasetron mesylate) * Concurrent hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, or other diuretics allowed provided patient is receiving potassium chloride supplementation (No supplementation needed if switched to a potassium-conserving diuretic) * No CNS lymphoma * Creatinine normal * Cardiac function \>= 50% by MUGA