17-N-Allylamino-17-Demethoxygeldanamycin in Treating Patients With Solid Tumors That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: One of the following diagnoses: Histologically or cytologically confirmed solid tumor* Unresectable disease Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Relapsed disease Failed at least 1 prior therapy Neoplastic cells are accessible through biopsy NOTE: *Only patients with biopsy-accessible superficial tumors or lymphoma are eligible once the maximum tolerated dose has been determined No known standard therapy that is potentially curative or definitely capable of extending life expectancy exists No CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver involvement) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.25 times ULN OR Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective nonhormonal contraception No uncontrolled infection No seizure disorder No history of serious allergic reaction to eggs PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy No concurrent immunotherapy No concurrent routine or prophylactic use of a colony-stimulating factor (e.g., filgrastim [G-CSF] or sargramostim [GM-CSF]) Chemotherapy: More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) and recovered from acute and reversible toxic effects No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent birth control pills No concurrent steroids as anti-emetics Radiotherapy: More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of the bone marrow No prior radiopharmaceuticals No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified Other: No concurrent 3A4 enzyme inhibitors (e.g., verapamil, erythromycin, miconazole, or ketoconazole) No concurrent investigational ancillary therapy No concurrent enrollment in another study involving a pharmacologic agent (e.g., drugs, biologics, immunotherapy approaches, or gene therapy) for symptom control or therapeutic intent