Aurora Kinase Inhibitor AT9283 in Treating Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors or Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following: * Advanced and/or metastatic solid tumor * Advanced or metastatic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma refractory to standard therapy * Clinically or radiologically documented disease * No tumor marker elevation as only evidence of disease * No untreated brain or meningeal metastases * Treated and stable brain metastases allowed provided they are asymptomatic and do not require steroids PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Creatinine ≤ 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN) OR creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min * Bilirubin normal * ALT and AST ≤ 2 times ULN (≤5 times ULN if liver metastases are present) * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use two effective methods of contraception * No untreated or uncontrolled hypertension, cardiovascular conditions, or symptomatic cardiac dysfunction * No active or uncontrolled infections * No serious illness or medical condition that would preclude study treatment PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered * At least 3 weeks since prior palliative radiotherapy and recovered * Low-dose, nonmyelosuppressive radiotherapy may be allowed * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy for solid tumors and recovered * No more than 2 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens fo…