Mafosfamide in Treating Patients With Progressive or Refractory Meningeal Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of leukemia or lymphoma with meningeal involvement defined as cerebrospinal fluid cell count at least 5/mm^3 AND evidence of blast cells on cytospin preparation or by cytology OR Diagnosis of other solid tumor with meningeal involvement defined as presence of tumor cells on cytospin preparation or cytology OR presence of measurable meningeal disease on CT or MRI scan Meningeal malignancy must be progressive or refractory to conventional therapy Meningeal malignancies secondary to an underlying solid tumor are allowed at initial diagnosis provided there is no conventional therapy No concurrent bone marrow relapse in leukemia or lymphoma patients No clinical evidence of obstructive hydrocephalus or compartmentalization of the cerebrospinal fluid flow as documented by a radioisotope indium In 111 or technetium Te 99-DTPA flow study Patients demonstrating restored flow after focal radiotherapy are allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 3 Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 8 weeks Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: No clinically significant liver function abnormalities Renal: No clinically significant renal function abnormalities Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study No clinically significant metabolic parameter abnormalities (e.g., electrolytes, calcium, and phosphorus) No significant systemic illness (e.g., infection) PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Recovered from prior immunotherapy Chemotherapy: At least 1 week since prior intrathecal chemotherapy (2 weeks for cytarabine (liposomal)) and recovered Concurrent systemic chemotherapy to control systemic or bulk CNS disease allowed with the following exceptions: No phase I agent No agent that significantly penetrates the CNS (e.g., high-dose systemic methotrexate (more than 1 g/m^2), high-dose cytarabine (more than 2 g/m^2), IV mercaptopurine, fluorouracil, topotecan, or thiotepa) No agent known to have serious unpredictable CNS side effects Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Recovered from prior radiotherapy At least 8 weeks since prior craniospinal irradiation Local radiotherapy for symptomatic or bulky CNS disease must be given prior to induction therapy No concurrent whole brain or craniospinal irradiation Concurrent partial brain (e.g., base of brain) or limited-field spinal radiotherapy for asymptomatic bulky (radiographically visible) CNS disease allowed Total CNS radiotherapy dose must not exceed accepted safe tissue tolerances Surgery: Not specified Other: At least 1 week since any prior CNS therapy At least 7 days since prior intrathecal investigational agent At least 14 days since prior systemic investigational agent No other concurrent intrathecal or systemic investigational agent No other concurrent intrathecal or systemic therapy to treat meningeal malignancy No other concurrent intrathecal therapy or agent that significantly penetrates the blood-brain barrier No concurrent agent known to have serious unpredictable CNS side effects