Obatoclax and Bortezomib in Treating Patients With Aggressive Relapsed or Recurrent Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Inclusion Criteria:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma for which standard curative or palliative measures do not exist or are no longer effective, including any of the following subtypes:

Follicular grade I, II, or III lymphoma
Marginal zone lymphoma
Mantle cell lymphoma
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma
Small lymphocytic lymphoma

Must have had at least one prior chemotherapeutic regimen:

Steroids or rituximab alone or local radiotherapy do not count as regimens
Tositumomab or ibritumomab tiuxetan allowed as regimens
Clear evidence of disease progression or lack of response after the most recent therapy, including rituximab or local radiotherapy, is required
At least 3 months since prior autologous stem cell transplantation and relapsed (>= 1 year since prior allogeneic transplantation and relapsed) and no active related infections (i.e., fungal or viral)
In the case of allogeneic transplantation relapse, there should be no active acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of any grade and no chronic GVHD other than mild skin, oral, or ocular GVHD not requiring systemic immunosuppression
No known active brain metastases, other neurological disorders/dysfunction or history of seizure disorder, or other neurological dysfunction
Karnofsky performance status 60-100%
Life expectancy > 3 months
Total bilirubin normal
AST and ALT =< 2.5 times upper limit of normal
Creatinine normal or creatinine clearance >= 60 mL/min
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective double-barrier contraception during and for 3 months after the last dose of obatoclax mesylate
At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
More than 2 days since prior steroids
More than 2 weeks since prior low-dose chlorambucil
WBC >= 3,000/mm^3
ANC >= 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count >= 100,000/mm^3
At least 2 weeks since prior valproic acid

Exclusion Criteria:

Uncontrolled concurrent medical condition or illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:

Ongoing or active infection
Symptomatic congestive heart failure
Unstable angina pectoris
Cardiac arrhythmia including QTc > 450 msec
Patients who are intolerant or refractory to prior treatment with bortezomib (refractory is defined as no response to prior treatment with bortezomib)
Chemotherapy within the past 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C)
Rituximab within the past 3 months (unless there is evidence of progression)
Patients who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier
Other concurrent investigational agents
Combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
No history of allergic reactions attributed to bortezomib, polyethylene glycol (PEG 300), or polysorbate 20
No psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements