DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed hematologic malignancy that has failed standard therapy or for which no standard therapy exists, including, but not limited to, the following: Acute lymphocytic leukemia Acute myelogenous leukemia Chronic lymphocytic leukemia Chronic myelogenous leukemia Multiple myeloma Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Hodgkin's disease No history of CNS disease, including carcinomatous meningitis