Dolastatin 10 in Treating Patients With Indolent Lymphoma, Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia, or Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologic or cytologic diagnosis of indolent lymphoma as defined by International Working Formulation categories A-C or diagnosis of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, or chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Lymphoma must be stage III, IV, or recurrent (no primary CNS lymphoma or lymphomatous meningitis)

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia must have at least one of the following:

IGM greater than 3,000 mg/dL
Hemoglobin less than 10.0 g/dL
Bone marrow involvement greater than 30% lymphocytes
At least 2 cm lymphadenopathy
Serum viscosity greater than 3.0

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia must be intermediate or high risk stages I-IV and have progressed on fludarabine therapy unless patient cannot tolerate fludarabine

Intermediate risk group must have at least one indication of active disease:

Presence of any one of the disease related B symptoms: 10% or more loss of body weight over the preceding 6 month period, extreme fatigue, fever above 100 degrees F without evidence of infection, or night sweats
Massive (greater than 6 cm below left costal margin) or progressive splenomegaly
Massive (greater than 10 cm in longest diameter) or progressive lymphadenopathy
Progressive lymphocytosis with an increase of 50% over a 2 month period or anticipated doubling time of less than 12 months
Evidence of progressive marrow failure as manifested by the development or worsening of anemia and/or thrombocytopenia
Autoimmune anemia and/or thrombocytopenia poorly responsive to corticosteroid therapy
Intolerance, relapse, or failure following prior fludarabine allowed
Measurable or evaluable disease
No untreated immediate life threatening tumor complications

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

CALGB 0-2

Life expectancy:

Not specified

Hematopoietic:

See Disease Characteristics
WBC at least 4,000/mm^3*
Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3*
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3*
Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL* NOTE: *Unless documented bone marrow involvement

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
SGOT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Other:

No prior malignancy except adequately treated basal or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, well differentiated stage IA prostate cancer, or any other cancer from which the patient has been disease free for five years
Not pregnant or nursing
Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

No prior autologous bone marrow or stem cell transplantation

Chemotherapy:

See Disease Characteristics
No more than 2 prior systemic regimens for treatment of lymphoma
No chemotherapy for treatment of any other prior malignancy
At least 4 weeks since chemotherapy and recovered
Prior fludarabine therapy allowed

Endocrine therapy:

See Disease Characteristics

Radiotherapy:

Prior radiotherapy allowed (index lesion cannot be within prior radiotherapy field)

Surgery:

Recovered from prior surgery