DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed* mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)

  • Relapsed, refractory, or stable disease after prior treatment
  • Tumor must be cyclin D-1 by immunohistochemistry OR 11;14 translocation by fluorescent in situ hybridization or cytogenetics NOTE: *By peripheral blood flow cytometry and/or bone marrow aspirate and biopsy for patients who have had a prior excisional biopsy; patients who have had intervening treatment since last biopsy are required to have a rebiopsy

• Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 of the following:

  • Unidimensionally measurable lymph node or tumor mass ≥ 2 cm by CT scan or MRI
  • Splenic enlargement if spleen is palpable ≥ 3 cm below the left costal margin
  • Malignant lymphocytosis if absolute lymphocytic count ≥ 5,000 AND lymphocytes confirmed to be monoclonal by flow cytometry
• No known CNS involvement (e.g., parenchymal mass or leptomeningeal involvement)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• At least 3 months

Hematopoietic

• See Disease Characteristics
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) OR
• Direct bilirubin < 1.5 times ULN
• AST ≤ 3 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver involvement by MCL is present)

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 2 times ULN

Cardiovascular

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment
• Cholesterol ≤ 350 mg/dL
• Fasting triglycerides < 400 mg/dL
• No known HIV positivity
• No ongoing or active infection
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• No other uncontrolled illness
• No other active malignancy requiring treatment OR that would preclude assessment of response to study drugs

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Prior biologic response modifiers allowed
• Prior immunotherapy allowed
• Prior high-dose therapy with stem cell support (i.e., stem cell transplantation) allowed
• No concurrent prophylactic growth factor to support neutrophils

Chemotherapy

• Prior chemotherapy allowed
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• No concurrent corticosteroids to induce an antitumor response

  • Concurrent corticosteroids (≤ 10 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent) for adrenal insufficiency or acute allergic reactions allowed

Radiotherapy

• Prior radiotherapy allowed

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• No prior treatment with a mTOR inhibitor
• No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies for MCL
• No other concurrent immunosuppressive therapy
• No other concurrent treatment for MCL