Galiximab in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin's Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL): * Bone marrow biopsies as the sole means of diagnosis are not acceptable, but they may be submitted in conjunction with nodal biopsies * Fine needle aspirates are not acceptable * Recurrent or refractory disease after at least two prior standard chemotherapy regimens * Nodular lymphocyte predominant HL allowed * Measurable disease must be present on either physical examination or imaging studies * Measurable disease is defined as any lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as ≥ 10 mm * Evaluable or non-measurable disease alone is not acceptable including any of the following: * Bone lesions (lesions, if present, should be noted) * Bone marrow involvement (if present, this should be noted) * Ascites * Pleural/pericardial effusion * Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis * Ineligible for a stem cell transplantation * Patients eligible for CALGB-50502 should not be considered for this study * No known CNS involvement PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-2 * ANC ≥ 500/μL * Platelet count ≥ 50,000/μL * Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL * Total bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL (no history of Gilbert Disease) * AST ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study * No known HIV infection PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered to ≤ grade 1 from all toxicities related to prior treatments * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or biologic anticancer therapy * Prior autologous and/or allogeneic stem cell transplantation allowed * No prior anti-CD80 antibody * No concurrent steroids, hormones, or other chemotherapeutic agents except for steroids given for adrenal failure and hormones administered for non-disease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes) * The use of dexamethasone and other steroidal antiemetics is prohibited unless to treat acute grade 3 or 4 monoclonal antibody-associated infusion reactions not responsive to transient discontinuation of antibody infusion or acetaminophen and diphenhydramine * Dexamethasone is also allowed for re-treatment after an infusion reaction