This phase I trial is studying the best dose of 3-AP and the side effects of giving 3-AP together with gemcitabine in treating patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphoma. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as 3-AP and gemcitabine (GEM), work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. 3-AP may help gemcitabine kill more cancer cells by making the cells more sensitive to the drug. 3-AP may also stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the maximal tolerable dose (MTD) of 3-AP administered as a 24 hour infusion in combination with and fixed-dose gemcitabine hydrochloride (GEM) in patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphomas.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To define the qualitative and quantitative toxicities of the 3-AP/GEM combination in regard to organ specificity, time course, predictability, and reversibility.

II. To document the therapeutic response of this combination in those patients when possible.

III. To measure deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP) levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) before and after treatment at specified times and try to correlate findings to activity and toxicity of 3-AP.

IV. To perform limited pharmacokinetic analysis.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of 3-AP (Triapine®).Patients receive 3-AP (Triapine®) IV over 24 hours followed by gemcitabine hydrochloride IV over 100-125 minutes on days 1 and 8. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for 12 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Patients achieving complete response (CR) receive 1 additional course of therapy beyond documented CR.Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of 3-AP (Triapine®) until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity.After completion of study treatment, patients are followed periodically for 2 years.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced solid tumors or lymphoma

  • Disease considered incurable using standard treatment

• ECOG performance status ≤ 2

• Life expectancy > 12 weeks

• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3

• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3

• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

• Total bilirubin normal

• AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal

• Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min

• Not pregnant or nursing

• Negative pregnancy test

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception prior to and during study treatment

• No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to 3-AP (Triapine®) and/or gemcitabine hydrochloride

• No known glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency

• No uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements

• No pulmonary disease (e.g., dyspnea at rest, supplemental oxygen requirement, or baseline oxygen saturation < 92%)

• Prior gemcitabine hydrochloride allowed if given as a standard 30-minute infusion

  • At least 4 weeks since prior gemcitabine hydrochloride

• Patient may have received < 2 lines of chemotherapy in the metastatic setting

• No prior 3-AP (Triapine®) or fixed-dose gemcitabine hydrochloride

• At least 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas or mitomycin C

• More than 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy

• No other concurrent investigational agents

• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive patients

• No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies