Forodesine (BCX-1777) in Treating Patients With Refractory Stage IIA, Stage IIB, Stage III, Stage IVA, or Stage IVB Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma Refractory to prior treatment Stage IIA, IIB, III, IVA, or IVB disease Measurable disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy At least 3 months Hematopoietic Not specified Hepatic AST and/or ALT ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal Hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C negative Renal Creatinine clearance ≥ 40 mL/min Immunologic Human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I (HTLV-I) negative HIV negative No active serious infection not controlled by antibiotics Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No known impaired absorption of the gastrointestinal tract No other illness that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy More than 21 days since prior chemotherapy and recovered Endocrine therapy Concurrent topical corticosteroids allowed provided patient remains on a stable dose Radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery Not specified Other More than 30 days since prior investigational agents and recovered No concurrent tanning bed use No other concurrent therapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma