DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed recurrent or progressive Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia that is unlikely to respond to existing therapy, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy

  • Evidence of tumor by MRI, CT scan, chest x-ray, or radionuclide scan
  • Must have received and failed at least one standard first-line therapy (e.g., corticosteroid/alkylator combination)

• Biochemical evidence of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia

  • Abnormal proteins in serum and urine

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

• At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 2000/mm3
• Platelet count at least 50,000/mm3

Hepatic:

• No hepatic insufficiency
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

• No renal insufficiency
• Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
• No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No history of congestive heart failure
• No history of other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Pulmonary:

• No serious lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study
• No active infection
• No non-malignant systemic disease
• Not a high medical or psychiatric risk

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
• No concurrent immunomodulating agent

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks (6 weeks since nitrosoureas) since prior chemotherapy
• No concurrent antineoplastic agents

Endocrine therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior surgery

Other:

• No prior antineoplastons
• Prior cytodifferentiating agents allowed