Fenretinide in Treating Patients With Refractory or Relapsed Hematologic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following hematologic malignancies: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) Hodgkin's lymphoma Multiple myeloma Acute lymphoblastic leukemia Acute myeloid leukemia Chronic hematologic malignancy with a poor prognosis (e.g., failed 3 prior standard therapies), including any of the following: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia Chronic myelogenous leukemia Indolent NHL Myeloproliferative disorders Refractory or relapsed disease, as defined by 1 of the following: Resistant to standard therapy for refractory or relapsed disease Progressed after standard therapy for advanced disease No effective treatment exists Measurable or evaluable disease No active CNS disease Previously treated leptomeningeal disease or brain metastases allowed provided there is no evidence of remaining cancer by positron-emission tomography, MRI, or spinal fluid cytology PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy At least 3 months Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 (unless due to bone marrow involvement of disease) Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm^3 (unless due to bone marrow involvement of disease) Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL (transfusion allowed) No coagulation disorders Hepatic AST and ALT < 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (≤ 5 times ULN for patients with liver metastasis) Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN Renal Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular No major cardiovascular disease Pulmonary No major respiratory disease Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective double-method contraception prior to study entry, during study, and for at least 6 months after study participation No uncontrolled systemic infection No uncontrolled hypertriglyceridemia (i.e., triglyceride level > 500 mg/dL) No known HIV positivity No known allergy to egg products No known familial hyperlipidemia disorders No previously undiscovered hypertriglyceridemia No poorly controlled diabetes PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy More than 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy except hydroxyurea No concurrent hydroxyurea during study drug administration No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy Endocrine therapy No concurrent hormone-ablative agents No concurrent steroids No concurrent tamoxifen or any of its analogues Radiotherapy No prior cranial radiotherapy More than 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery More than 20 days since prior surgery except for biopsy Other Recovered from all prior therapy More than 2 weeks since prior investigational agents No other concurrent investigational agents No other concurrent antineoplastic therapy No other concurrent antioxidants No concurrent herbal or other alternative therapies No concurrent vitamin supplements (e.g., vitamin A, ascorbic acid, or vitamin E) Standard dose multivitamin allowed No other concurrent medications that may act as modulators of intracellular ceramide levels or ceramide cytotoxicity, sphingolipid transport, or p-glycoprotein or multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) drug/lipid transporters, including any of the following: Cyclosporine or any of its analogues Verapamil Ketoconazole Chlorpromazine Mifepristone Indomethacin Sulfinpyrazone No concurrent medications that may cause pseudotumor cerebri, including any of the following: Tetracycline Nalidixic acid Nitrofurantoin Phenytoin Sulfonamides Lithium Amiodarone No concurrent medication to control hypertriglyceridemia