Perifosine in Treating Patients With Refractory Solid Tumors or Hematologic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed solid tumor, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, or Hodgkin's lymphoma that has no effective standard therapeutic option but requires systemic therapy No history of CNS neoplasms For prostate cancer: Tumor progression during blockade of testicular and adrenal androgens At least 4 weeks since prior flutamide or other antiandrogens without disease improvement Leuprolide or other gonadotropin-releasing hormones should be maintained in patients without an orchiectomy Testosterone in the castrate range For breast cancer: At least 4 weeks since any prior hormonal therapy with evidence of disease progression PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm^3 Absolute granulocyte count greater than 500/mm^3 Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2.5 times normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No history of unstable or newly diagnosed angina pectoris No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No New York Heart Association class II-IV heart disease Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception HIV negative No recent acute or chronic gastrointestinal conditions (e.g., stomach ulcer or enteritis) that might affect tolerability or drug absorption No allergic reaction to any medication with a structure similar to perifosine No pre-existing retinal disease or pathologic baseline electrooculogram No cataracts that would interfere with normal vision or require medical intervention No other serious concurrent illness that would preclude assessment of drug effect PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered At least 2 months since prior UCN-01 More than 3 months since prior suramin Endocrine therapy: See Disease Characteristics No concurrent corticosteroids except for physiological replacement or as antiemetics Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (6 weeks for bone-seeking radioisotopes) and recovered Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: No other concurrent antineoplastic therapies