Aminocamptothecin in Treating Patients With Refractory or Recurrent Hodgkin's Disease or Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically documented Hodgkin's disease (closed to accrual 4/15/2000) OR Histologically documented non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of one of the following International Working Formulation (IWF) histologies: Small lymphocytic (absolute lymphocyte count less than 5,000) IWF A Follicular, predominantly small cleaved cell IWF B Follicular mixed IWF C Follicular large cell IWF D* Diffuse small cleaved cell IWF E* Diffuse mixed IWF F* Diffuse large cell IWF G* Large cell, immunoblastic IWF H* * Accrual of patients with these diagnoses closed 4/15/2000 Pathology review required within 60 days of registration Refractory to or relapsed after prior chemotherapy as follows: Low-grade NHL (IWF A-C): 1 or 2 prior therapies Intermediate-grade NHL (IWF D-H): 1 prior therapy (stratum closed 4/15/2000) Hodgkin's disease: 1 or 2 prior therapies (stratum closed 4/15/2000) Treatment with the same drugs on 2 different schedules considered 1 therapy Measurable disease by physical exam or imaging studies Mass larger than 1 x 1 cm Documented progression required of previously irradiated lesions The following are not considered measurable: Ascites or pleural effusion Bone marrow involvement Positive barium studies Bony disease (lytic lesions noted) No mantle cell or transformed lymphoma No parenchymal or leptomeningeal CNS disease A new classification scheme for adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been adopted by PDQ. The terminology of "indolent" or "aggressive" lymphoma will replace the former terminology of "low", "intermediate", or "high" grade lymphoma. However, this protocol uses the former terminology. PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: CALGB 0-2 Unless hypersplenism or biopsy-proven bone marrow involvement: Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Bilirubin normal AST no greater than 4 times normal Creatinine normal No suspected HIV infection No second malignancy within past 5 years except: Curatively treated carcinoma of the cervix Curatively treated basal cell skin cancer No uncontrolled infection or other serious medical condition No psychiatric condition that precludes informed consent Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: No prior allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplant More than 3 weeks since chemotherapy (6 weeks since nitrosoureas, melphalan, or mitomycin) No prior camptothecin More than 3 weeks since radiotherapy