DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• One of the following diagnoses:

  • Histologically confirmed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or non-contiguous stage II or stage III-IV small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)

    • Previously treated with at least 1 form of chemotherapy or immunotherapy

  • Histologically confirmed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (enrolled after the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined)

    • Must have failed 1 prior therapy
    • Ineligible for allogeneic stem cell transplantation

  • Histologically confirmed acute myeloid leukemia (enrolled after the MTD is determined)

    • Primary refractory or relapsed (within the past year) disease
    • Ineligible for potential curative therapy

• Express Hu1D10 antigen

  • Greater than 2 times the mean fluorescence intensity of the control by flow cytometry (blood or bone marrow cells) OR
  • Positive by immunohistochemical staining (lymph node)

• Presenting with one of the following indications for treatment unless early bone marrow transplantation is planned (CLL or SLL patients only):

  • Disease-related progressive symptoms
  • Progressively worsening anemia or thrombocytopenia
  • Progressively worsening lymphadenopathy
  • Massive splenomegaly or hypersplenism
  • Hyperlymphocytosis (WBC greater than 200,000/mm3) or lymphocyte doubling time less than 12 months
  • Marrow failure secondary to marrow infiltration by leukemia or lymphoma

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• At least 2 years

Hematopoietic:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Platelet count at least 50,000/mm^3 (without transfusion)

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 3 mg/dL (unless elevated secondary to tumor)

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• No prior decompensated congestive heart failure, unstable angina, or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months not corrected by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or surgery

Other:

• No active infection requiring oral or IV antibiotics
• No other malignancy that would limit life expectancy
• HIV negative
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 1 month since prior rituximab or alemtuzumab (unless CD20 or CD52 antigen is expressed on tumor cells)
• No prior monoclonal antibody Hu1D10

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• Not specified

Surgery:

• Not specified