Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven recurrent or refractory leukemia, lymphoma,
or other solid tumor that has overt meningeal involvement Definition of meningeal disease:
Leukemia/lymphoma: CSF cell count at least 5/mm3 and evidence of blast cells on cytospin
preparation or cytology Solid tumors: Presence of tumor cells on cytospin preparation or
cytology OR evidence of meningeal disease on CT or MRI scan No bone marrow disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 1 to 21 Performance Status: ECOG 0-2 Life Expectancy: At
least 8 weeks Hematopoietic: Platelet count greater than 40,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin
less than 2.0 mg/dL ALT less than 5 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine less
than 1.5 mg/dL Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Effective
contraceptive method used by fertile patients No uncontrolled illness or infection (except
for HIV positive patients) No obstructive hydrocephalus or compartmentalization of the CSF
flow

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No acute toxic effects from prior
immunotherapy No prior allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantations within 3
months of study Chemotherapy: No prior systemic CNS directed chemotherapy within 3 weeks
of study No prior nitrosourea within 6 weeks of study No prior intrathecal chemotherapy
within 1 week of study No acute toxic effects from prior chemotherapy No prior DTC 101
Concurrent systemic chemotherapy for management of primary cancer allowed Concurrent
dexamethasone with systemic chemotherapy regimen allowed No concurrent chemotherapy for
leptomeningeal disease No concurrent high dose methotrexate, high dose cytarabine,
mercaptopurine, thiotepa, fluorouracil, and topotecan Endocrine therapy: Concurrent
prednisone therapy with systemic chemotherapy allowed Radiotherapy: No prior craniospinal
irradiation within 8 weeks of study No acute toxic effects from prior radiotherapy
Concurrent local radiation therapy allowed No concurrent whole brain or craniospinal
radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified Other: At least 2 weeks since investigational drugs
and recovered No other concurrent investigational drugs Concurrent antibiotic therapy
allowed