Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically proven non-Hodgkin's disease that has failed both prior high-dose
chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

- At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

- WBC greater than 2,000/mm^3

- Platelet count greater than 20,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL

- No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

- No hypertension

- No history of congestive heart failure

- No history of other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of
sodium

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study
participation

- No serious active infections

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered

- No concurrent immunomodulatory agents (e.g., interferon or interleukin-2)

Chemotherapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior corticosteroids

- No concurrent corticosteroids

Radiotherapy:

- At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

- Not specified

Other:

- No prior antineoplaston therapy

- No other concurrent antineoplastic agents

- No concurrent antibiotics, antifungals, or antivirals