DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following:

  • Metastatic or unresectable solid tumor or lymphoma

    • If assessing a single target lesion, histological confirmation of that particular lesion is required

  • Intracranial glioblastoma, gliosarcoma, or anaplastic astrocytoma meeting all of the following criteria:

    • Must have shown unequivocal radiographic evidence for tumor progression by MRI scan

    • Must be on a steroid dose that has been stable for at least 5 days

      • If the steroid dose is increased between the date of imaging and registration, a new baseline MRI is required

• Stable brain metastasis allowed provided the following criteria are met:

  • Stable disease on MRI ≥ 4 weeks after completion of whole brain radiation
  • No evidence of progression on MRI 4 weeks after completion of stereotactic radiosurgery
  • Brain metastasis was completely excised
• No squamous cell non-small cell lung carcinoma

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 OR Karnofsky PS 60-100%
• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm³
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL (unless Gilbert's syndrome is present)
• AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5.0 times ULN if due to liver involvement)
• Serum creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
• Proteinuria < 1+ by dipstick or urine analysis
• Urine protein:creatinine ratio < 1.0 OR urine protein < 1,000 mg by 24-hour urine collection
• No abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 28 days
• No significant traumatic injury within the past 28 days
• No QTc prolongation (i.e., QTc > 500 msec) or other significant ECG abnormality within the past 14 days
• No serious or non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
• No bleeding diathesis, defined as PT and aPTT ≥ 1.5 times ULN or INR ≥ 1.5
• No active gastric or duodenal ulcer
• No uncontrolled systemic vascular hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) > 140 mm Hg and diastolic BP > 90 mm Hg
• No concurrent uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection requiring parenteral antibiotics
• No conditions requiring drugs or biologics with proarrhythmic potential

• No clinically significant cardiovascular disease, including the following:

  • Cerebrovascular accident within the past 6 months
  • Myocardial infarction or unstable angina within the past 6 months
  • New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure
  • Serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication
  • Unstable angina pectoris
  • Clinically significant peripheral vascular disease
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Recovered from all prior therapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C)
• More than 28 days since prior major surgeries or open biopsy
• More than 7 days since prior core biopsy
• No concurrent major surgery
• No other concurrent investigational agents