UCN-01 and Prednisone in Treating Patients With Solid Tumors or Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed solid tumor or lymphoma Progressive disease after standard therapy No other therapy is likely to improve survival Prostate cancer patients must have progressed through hormonal therapy with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and withdrawal of testosterone receptor antagonists Patients must continue on GnRH agonist during study (if orchiectomy has not been performed) and have castrate testosterone levels Brain metastases allowed if treated and the patient has been stable off anti-seizure medication or steroids for > 6 months No local complications from disease requiring urgent therapy (i.e., hydronephrosis, spinal cord compression, or severe pain requiring improved pain management) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy At least 3 months Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm^3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3 12-hour fasting glucose no greater than 110 mg/dL OR 12-hour fasting glucose no greater than 140 mg/dL with hemoglobin A1C no greater than 6.5 mg/dL Hepatic PT/PTT no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times ULN (unless Gilbert's syndrome present) AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min OR Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular No symptomatic congestive heart failure No unstable angina pectoris Pulmonary No interstitial lung disease within the past year No requirement for oxygen therapy for hypoxia in the past 6 months Gastrointestinal No diagnosis of duodenal or gastric ulcer No severe gastritis within the past 6 months Other HIV negative No prior allergic reactions to other indolocarbazoles No diabetes or hyperglycemia within the past year that required a diabetic diet, oral hypoglycemics, or insulin No other uncontrolled illness No active infection No seizure disorder No psychiatric illness that would preclude study compliance Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study therapy PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered No prior UCN-01 Endocrine therapy See Disease Characteristics No other concurrent oral or IV steroids Radiotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery See Disease Characteristics At least 21 days since prior major surgery Other See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior investigational agents No other concurrent anticancer therapy