RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy such as flavopiridol work in different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die.

PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of flavopiridol in treating patients with previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia or lymphocytic lymphoma.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Determine the maximum tolerated dose of flavopiridol in patients with previously treated B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma.
• Determine the dose-limiting toxicity and toxicity profile of this drug in these patients.
• Determine the safety and feasibility of performing dose escalation of this drug in patients who do not experience sever tumor lysis requiring hemodialysis during dose 1.
• Determine the pharmacokinetics and cellular pharmacodynamics of this drug in these patients.

Secondary

• Determine the complete response and overall response rates in patients treated with this drug.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study.

Patients receive a loading dose of flavopiridol IV over 30 minutes followed by a 4-hour infusion on days 1, 8, 15, and 22. Treatment repeats every 6 weeks for up to 6 courses in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression.

Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of flavopiridol 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 the MTD is determined, 12 additional patients are accrued and treated as above at the recommended phase II dose.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed at 2 months and then every 3 months for 2 years.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 3-84 patients will be accrued for this study within 28 months.

• Leukemia
• Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma, including Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, as indicated by the following:

  • Massive or progressive splenomegaly and/or lymphadenopathy
  • Anemia (hemoglobin less than 11 g/dL) or thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 100,000/mm^3)
  • Weight loss of more than 10% within the past 6 months
  • Grade 2 or 3 fatigue
  • Fevers greater than 100.5º C or night sweats for more than 2 weeks with no evidence of infection
  • Progressive lymphocytosis with an increase of more than 50% over a 2-month period or anticipated doubling time of less than 6 months
• Received at least 1 prior therapy for CLL

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• See Disease Characteristics
• WBC less than 200,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal (unless due to Gilbert's disease or any of the conditions stated below)*
• AST no greater than 2 times normal* NOTE: *Unless due to hemolysis, disease infiltration of the liver, or perihepatic lymph node obstruction of biliary flow from the liver

Renal

• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other malignancy that would limit survival to less than 2 years
• No history of inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) unless inactive for more than 2 years
• No psychiatric condition that would preclude compliance with treatment or giving informed consent

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• No concurrent chronic corticosteroids
• No concurrent hormonal therapy except steroids for new adrenal failure or hormonal agents for nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
• No concurrent dexamethasone or other corticosteroid-based antiemetics

Radiotherapy

• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

• Not specified