OUTLINE: Patients are stratified into relapsed or refractory patient groups based on results achieved with prior therapy. Patients receive 6-hydroxymethylacylfulvene IV over 5 minutes daily for 5 days. Courses repeat every 28 days. Patients with stable or responding disease are treated for a minimum of 6 courses (2 courses beyond optimal response) in the absence of unacceptable toxic effects or disease progression. Patients are followed at least every 3 months for 1 year, then every 6 months until death.