10-Propargyl-10-Deazaaminopterin in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma or Hodgkin's Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed Hodgkin's lymphoma or, using the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma including: Large B- or T-cell lymphomas (including transformed lymphomas) Mantle cell lymphoma Immunoblastic lymphoma At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion At least 2 centimeter (cm) by conventional techniques OR At least 1 cm by spiral computerized tomography (CT) scan Lymph nodes no greater than 1 cm in the short axis are considered normal Relapsed or refractory disease after first-line chemotherapy Cohort 1: No more than 3 prior conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens Must have had at least a partial response (PR) lasting no more than 6 months or refractory disease Patients with disease refractory to or relapsed less than 100 days from peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation are not eligible Cohort 2: No limit on prior treatment Must have had at least a PR to the last therapy lasting at least 6 months Patients who have received high-dose chemotherapy as part of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) transplantation are eligible if relapse occurred at least 100 days after transplantation No clinically significant pleural effusions or ascites No active brain or leptomeningeal metastases Treated Central nervous system (CNS) disease allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm^3 Platelet count greater than 75,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) no greater than 2.5 times ULN (4 times ULN if liver involvement) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 5 times ULN Renal Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Cardiovascular No symptomatic congestive heart failure No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease No unstable angina pectoris No cardiac arrhythmia No myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, or transient ischemic attack within the past 6 months No history of orthostatic hypotension No ECG evidence of acute ischemia or significant conduction abnormality (e.g., bifascicular block or 2nd or 3rd degree atrioventricular blocks) No uncontrolled hypertension requiring active manipulation of antihypertensive medications No grade III or IV edema Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No ongoing or active infection Febrile episodes up to 38.5° Celsius without signs of active infection allowed No other concurrent active cancer No other concurrent serious medical illness No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy See Disease Characteristics At least 3 months since prior monoclonal antibody therapy (e.g., rituximab) Chemotherapy See Disease Characterisitics At least 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) and recovered Endocrine therapy At least 7 days since prior steroids No concurrent steroids Radiotherapy See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery Other No prior antifolates No concurrent folic acid supplementation No other concurrent investigational agents No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies with the intent to treat the malignancy