OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the complete and partial remission rates and remission duration in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma or refractory or relapsed noncutaneous peripheral T-cell lymphoma treated with 506U78. II. Determine the safety and toxicity of this treatment regimen in this patient population.

OUTLINE: Patients are stratified according to diagnosis (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma vs peripheral T-cell lymphoma). Patients receive 506U78 IV over 2 hours on days 1, 3, and 5. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for at least 2 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients achieving complete response receive up to 8 courses of therapy. Patients are followed every 3 months for 1 year and then every 6 months for 1 year or until relapse.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 34-74 patients will be accrued for this study within 3 years.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically and immunophenotypically confirmed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) or noncutaneous peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) including: Mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome Medium, mixed medium-large, or large cell PTCL PTCL variants: Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma Angiocentric lymphoma Intestinal T-cell lymphoma Adult T-cell lymphoma/leukemia Anaplastic large cell (CD30+) T-cell lymphoma Measurable disease Must have measurable skin lesions for CTCL The following are not considered measurable: Barium studies Ascites or pleural effusion Bony disease Bone marrow No CNS lymphoma requiring intrathecal or craniospinal radiotherapy May have failed no more than 2 prior treatment regimens (one may include peripheral blood stem cell transplantation) for PTCL

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Under 70 Performance status: 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min (unless due to lymphoma) Other: HIV negative No history of seizure disorder Neurologic toxicity no greater than grade 1 Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: See Disease Characteristics Prior local or topical interferon, monoclonal antibodies, or fusion toxins for CTCL allowed Recovered from prior biologic therapy Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No more than 1 prior course of single-agent systemic chemotherapy for CTCL No prior multiagent systemic chemotherapy Prior local or topical chemotherapy for CTCL allowed Recovered from prior chemotherapy No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: See Disease Characteristics No concurrent hormonal therapy except steroids for adrenal failure or hormones for nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes) No concurrent dexamethasone or other steroidal antiemetics Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Prior local radiotherapy or electron beam therapy for CTCL allowed Recovered from prior radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified Other: Prior local or topical retinoids for CTCL allowed