PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:~I. To assess tumor response to R115777 (tipifarnib) in patients with relapsed aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. (Permanently closed to accrual 6/28/06) II. To assess tumor response to R115777 in patients with relapsed indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. (Permanently closed to accrual 9/26/07) III. To assess tumor response to R115777 in patients with uncommon non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.~IV. To evaluate toxicity associated with this regimen in patients with relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.~SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:~I. To evaluate known and unknown molecular markers that may predict for response to R115777 in lymphoma tissue.~OUTLINE:~Patients receive tipifarnib orally (PO) twice daily (BID) on days 1-21. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.~After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 6 months for 2 years.
This phase II trial studies how well tipifarnib works in treating patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Tipifarnib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Tipifarnib may be an effective treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.