Bortezomib in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer and Liver Dysfunction

Inclusion Criteria

• •Histologically confirmed malignancy for which no known standard therapy that is potentially curative or definitely capable of extending life expectancy exists
• •Tumor types may include any of the following: solid tumors:
• •* Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• •* Hepatocellular carcinoma, as evidenced by liver mass, elevated alpha-fetoprotein level (\>= 500 ng/mL), and positive serology for hepatitis
• •Pathological confirmation is not required
• •Confirmatory evidence for a prior Hepatitis B infection (HBsAg, HBcAb and/or HBsAb) required
• •No symptomatic CNS metastases
• •Brain metastasis allowed if the following criteria are met:
• •* Received prior definitive treatment (radiation and/or surgery
• •* Stable disease for \>= 4 weeks
• •* Not currently on enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants and steroids
• •Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks
• •Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,000/mm\^3
• •Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
• •Biliary obstruction for which a shunt has been placed allowed provided the shunt has been in place for \>= 10 days AND liver function is stable, defined as 2 measurements taken \>= 2 days apart that qualify the patient for the same hepatic dysfunction stratum
• •No biliary sepsis
• •Creatinine =\< 1.5 mg/dL
• •No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• •No unstable angina pectoris
• •No cardiac arrhythmia
• •No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •No preexisting neuropathy \>= grade 2
• •No ongoing or active infection
• •No other concurrent uncontrolled illness that would preclude study participation
• •No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• •More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
• •More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy
• •No concurrent prophylactic colony-stimulating factors
• •No concurrent immunotherapy
• •No concurrent thalidomide
• •Concurrent epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa for management of cancer-associated anemia allowed
• •Recovered from prior chemotherapy (not including liver function)
• •More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)
• •No concurrent chemotherapy
• •More than 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• •No prior radiotherapy to \> 50% of the bone marrow
• •No concurrent radiotherapy
• •More than 3 weeks since prior surgery
• •No prior bortezomib
• •No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• •No other concurrent investigational agents
• •Concurrent cytochrome P450 interacting agents are allowed provided they are used with caution
• •Concurrent bisphosphonate therapy allowed (e.g., pamidronate or zoledronate), except during course 1 of bortezomib administration
• •ECOG 0-2
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 30 days after study participation