506U78 in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed relapsed or refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia or T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma
• * Tumor cells should exhibit phenotypic characteristics of these diseases
• No CNS involvement requiring intrathecal or craniospinal radiotherapy
• Must not be eligible for Intergroup, Cooperative Group, or local research studies of higher priority
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 16 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-3 OR
• Karnofsky 40-100%
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Not specified
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min
• Other:
• No neuropathy grade 2 or higher
• No history of significant neurological toxicity (grade 2 or greater) associated with prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• No active seizure disorder
• No active infection
• No other active concurrent malignancy except curatively treated basal cell carcinoma or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Prior bone marrow transplantation allowed
• No concurrent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosourea or mitomycin) and recovered
• No prior 506U78
• Endocrine therapy:
• No concurrent systemic steroid therapy
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Prior radiotherapy allowed
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• No other concurrent investigational therapy
• No concurrent treatment for seizures