DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven Tac-expressing adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), including any of the folllowing stages:

  • Lymphomatous (closed to accrual as of 10/3/05)
  • Acute (closed to accrual as of 10/3/05)
  • Chronic

  • Smoldering, meeting the following criteria:

    • Normal lymphocyte count (less than 4,000/mm^3)
    • At least 5% abnormal lymphocytes by morphologic examination on peripheral blood smear or FACS analysis (if less than 5% abnormal lymphocytes, then must have at least 1 histologically proven skin ATL lesion)
    • No hypercalcemia
    • Lactate dehydrogenase no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
    • No lymphadenopathy
    • No involvement of extranodal organs except skin or lung
    • No malignant pleural effusion or ascites
• HTLV-I antibody positive
• Reactivity of at least 5% of peripheral blood, lymph node, pulmonary, or dermal malignant cells with daclizumab as determined by immunofluorescent staining OR soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels greater than 1,000 U/mL required
• Measurable disease, defined as greater than 5% abnormal (i.e., Tac-homogenous strongly expressing) peripheral blood mononuclear cells

• No symptomatic CNS disease due to ATL

  • Tac-expressing T-cells may be present in the CSF
• ATL with concurrent tropical spastic paraparesis allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 10 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy:

• More than 2 months

Hematopoietic:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Granulocyte count at least 500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 25,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• See Disease Characteristics
• SGOT and SGPT less than 5 times ULN*
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.9 mg/dL* NOTE: * Unless due to ATL

Renal:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Creatinine less than 3.0 mg/dL

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• HIV negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Prior monoclonal antibody (MOAB) therapy including daclizumab allowed if human antibody to humanized anti-Tac (HAHA) negative (i.e., HAHA must be less than 250 ng/mL)
• No other concurrent MOAB therapy
• No concurrent gammaglobulins
• No concurrent interferons or other biologic response modifiers

Chemotherapy:

• More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy for ATL
• No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed

Radiotherapy:

• Not specified

Surgery:

• Not specified

Other:

• No other concurrent investigational anticancer drugs
• No concurrent FDA-approved anticancer agents
• Concurrent antibiotics allowed for infections, including Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
• No concurrent zidovudine
• No concurrent drugs that affect lymphocytes except corticosteroids