Bortezomib in Treating Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma That Is Refractory To Chemotherapy

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, meeting criteria for 1 of the following: Relapsed after prior high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell support Relapsed after prior chemotherapy, including at least 1 prior standard non-Hodgkin's chemotherapy regimen, but not a candidate for high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell support Measurable disease At least 1 bidimensionally measurable lesion at least 1.5 cm by CT scan No primary or secondary CNS lymphoma No HIV-related lymphoma No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-2 OR Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy More than 3 months Hematopoietic Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm^3 No colony-stimulating factors within 4 weeks before obtaining this result Platelet count at least 50,000/mm^3 No platelet transfusion within 4 weeks before obtaining this result Hepatic Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN No active hepatitis B or C viral infection Renal Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN OR Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No evidence of acute ischemia or new conduction system abnormalities on EKG No symptomatic congestive heart failure No unstable angina pectoris No cardiac arrhythmia Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception Sodium greater than 130 mEq/L HIV negative No ongoing or active infection No other concurrent uncontrolled illness that would preclude study participation No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance No prior allergic reaction attributable to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to bortezomib PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy See Disease Characteristics See Chemotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy More than 12 weeks since prior high-dose chemotherapy with hematopoietic stem cell support Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery unless fully recovered Other Recovered from prior therapy No other concurrent investigational agents No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies to treat the malignancy