10-Propargyl-10-Deazaaminopterin in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma or Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed Hodgkin's lymphoma or, using the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma including: * Large B- or T-cell lymphomas (including transformed lymphomas) * Mantle cell lymphoma * Immunoblastic lymphoma * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion * At least 2 centimeter (cm) by conventional techniques OR * At least 1 cm by spiral computerized tomography (CT) scan * Lymph nodes no greater than 1 cm in the short axis are considered normal * Relapsed or refractory disease after first-line chemotherapy * Cohort 1: * No more than 3 prior conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens * Must have had at least a partial response (PR) lasting no more than 6 months or refractory disease * Patients with disease refractory to or relapsed less than 100 days from peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation are not eligible * Cohort 2: * No limit on prior treatment * Must have had at least a PR to the last therapy lasting at least 6 months * Patients who have received high-dose chemotherapy as part of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) transplantation are eligible if relapse occurred at least 100 days after transplantation * No clinically significant pleural effusions or ascites * No active brain or leptomeningeal metastases * Treated Central nervous system (CNS) disease allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count greater than 75,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) no greater than 2.5 times ULN (4 times ULN if liver involvement) * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 5 times ULN Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Cardiovascular * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * No myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, or transient ischemic attack within the past 6 months * No history of orthostatic hypotension * No ECG evidence of acute ischemia or significant conduction abnormality (e.g., bifascicular block or 2nd or 3rd degree atrioventricular blocks) * No uncontrolled hypertension requiring active manipulation of antihypertensive medications * No grade III or IV edema Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No ongoing or active infection * Febrile episodes up to 38.5° Celsius without signs of active infection allowed * No other concurrent active cancer * No other concurrent serious medical illness * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 months since prior monoclonal antibody therapy (e.g., rituximab) Chemotherapy * See Disease Characterisitics * At least 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) and recovered Endocrine therapy * At least 7 days since prior steroids * No concurrent steroids Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery * More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery Other * No prior antifolates * No concurrent folic acid supplementation * No other concurrent investigational agents * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients * No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies with the intent to treat the malignancy