DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of leukemia or lymphoma with meningeal involvement defined as cerebrospinal fluid cell count at least 5/mm^3 AND evidence of blast cells on cytospin preparation or by cytology OR
• Diagnosis of other solid tumor with meningeal involvement defined as presence of tumor cells on cytospin preparation or cytology OR presence of measurable meningeal disease on CT or MRI scan

• Meningeal malignancy must be progressive or refractory to conventional therapy

  • Meningeal malignancies secondary to an underlying solid tumor are allowed at initial diagnosis provided there is no conventional therapy
• No concurrent bone marrow relapse in leukemia or lymphoma patients

• No clinical evidence of obstructive hydrocephalus or compartmentalization of the cerebrospinal fluid flow as documented by a radioisotope indium In 111 or technetium Te 99-DTPA flow study

  • Patients demonstrating restored flow after focal radiotherapy are allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Over 3

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• At least 8 weeks

Hematopoietic:

• Not specified

Hepatic:

• No clinically significant liver function abnormalities

Renal:

• No clinically significant renal function abnormalities

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study
• No clinically significant metabolic parameter abnormalities (e.g., electrolytes, calcium, and phosphorus)
• No significant systemic illness (e.g., infection)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Recovered from prior immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

• At least 1 week since prior intrathecal chemotherapy (2 weeks for cytarabine (liposomal)) and recovered

• Concurrent systemic chemotherapy to control systemic or bulk CNS disease allowed with the following exceptions:

  • No phase I agent
  • No agent that significantly penetrates the CNS (e.g., high-dose systemic methotrexate (more than 1 g/m^2), high-dose cytarabine (more than 2 g/m^2), IV mercaptopurine, fluorouracil, topotecan, or thiotepa)
  • No agent known to have serious unpredictable CNS side effects

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior radiotherapy
• At least 8 weeks since prior craniospinal irradiation
• Local radiotherapy for symptomatic or bulky CNS disease must be given prior to induction therapy

• No concurrent whole brain or craniospinal irradiation

  • Concurrent partial brain (e.g., base of brain) or limited-field spinal radiotherapy for asymptomatic bulky (radiographically visible) CNS disease allowed
• Total CNS radiotherapy dose must not exceed accepted safe tissue tolerances

Surgery:

• Not specified

Other:

• At least 1 week since any prior CNS therapy
• At least 7 days since prior intrathecal investigational agent
• At least 14 days since prior systemic investigational agent
• No other concurrent intrathecal or systemic investigational agent
• No other concurrent intrathecal or systemic therapy to treat meningeal malignancy
• No other concurrent intrathecal therapy or agent that significantly penetrates the blood-brain barrier
• No concurrent agent known to have serious unpredictable CNS side effects