Imetelstat Sodium in Treating Young Patients With Refractory or Recurrent Solid Tumors or Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of refractory or recurrent solid tumors, including lymphoma * No CNS tumors or known CNS metastases (Part A, dose escalation) * CNS tumors or known CNS metastases allowed (Part B, maximum-tolerated dose or recommended phase II dose) * No prior or concurrent CNS hemorrhage on a baseline MRI within the past 14 days * All patients must have histologic verification of malignancy at original diagnosis or relapse except for: * Intrinsic brain stem tumors * Optic pathway gliomas * Pineal tumors and elevations of CSF or serum tumor markers including alpha-fetoprotein or beta-HCG * Measurable or evaluable disease * Disease for which there is no known curative therapy or therapy proven to prolong survival with an acceptable quality of life * Patients with known bone marrow metastatic disease will be eligible for study provided they meet the blood count criteria and they are not known to be refractory to red cell or platelet transfusions PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Karnofsky performance status (PS) 50-100% (patients \> 16 years of age) OR Lansky PS 50-100% (patients ≤ 16 years of age) * ANC ≥ 1,000/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ (transfusion-independent, defined as not receiving platelet transfusion within the past 7 days prior to enrollment) * Creatinine clearance or radioisotope GFR ≥ 70 mL/min OR a serum creatinine based on age and/or gender as follows: * 0.6 mg/dL (1 to \< 2 years of age) * 0.8 mg/dL (2 to \< 6…