VNP40101M in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors or Lymphomas

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die.

PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of VNP40101M in treating patients who have advanced solid tumors or lymphomas.

OBJECTIVES:

* Determine the maximum tolerated dose of VNP40101M in patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphomas.
* Determine the toxic effects of this drug in these patients.
* Determine the pharmacokinetics of this drug in these patients.
* Determine the anti-tumor effects of this drug in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study.

Patients receive VNP40101M IV over 15 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 4 weeks for up to 8 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Cohorts of 1-6 patients receive escalating doses of VNP40101M until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the highest dose at which no more than 1 of 6 patients experiences dose-limiting toxicity.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 20-30 patients will be accrued for this study.

Eligibility Criteria:
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed advanced and/or metastatic solid tumor or lymphoma for which no curative or standard effective therapy exists
* Measurable or evaluable metastatic disease
* No other hematologic malignancy
* No large pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal effusions
* No requirement for immediate palliative treatment, including surgery
* No symptomatic brain metastases or metastases with substantial edema

  * Asymptomatic brain metastases or primary CNS disease allowed if neurologic deficits are stable

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

* At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

* Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* Hematocrit at least 30% (transfusion allowed)
* No active uncontrolled bleeding

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* ALT and AST no greater than 1.5 times ULN (3 times ULN if liver metastases present)
* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 1.5 times ULN (3 times ULN if liver or bone metastases present)
* PT and aPTT no greater than 1.5 times ULN
* Albumin at least 2.5 g/dL

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

* Ejection fraction at least 45%
* No active heart disease
* No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months
* No symptomatic coronary artery disease
* No arrhythmias requiring medication
* No uncontrolled congestive heart failure

Pulmonary:

* DLCO and FEV_1 at least 60% of predicted
* No dyspnea with minimal to moderate exertion

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study participation
* HIV negative
* No active infection
* Persistent stable chronic toxic effects from prior therapy allowed if no greater than grade 1
* No bleeding diathesis (e.g., active peptic ulcer disease)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* At least 3 weeks since prior biologic agents and recovered
* At least 6 months since prior high-dose chemotherapy regimen with stem cell support

Chemotherapy:

* See Biologic therapy
* At least 3 weeks since prior cytotoxic agents (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

* At least 2 weeks since prior hormonal therapy and recovered

Radiotherapy:

* At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 2 weeks since prior surgery and recovered

Other:

* No other concurrent standard therapy for cancer
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No concurrent disulfiram (Antabuse)