DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: One of the following hematologic malignancies that has failed 1 or 2 prior front-line chemotherapy regimens and is ineligible for treatment of higher potential efficacy: Histologically confirmed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) Intermediate- or high-risk (RAI stage I-IV) disease Evidence of active disease required by at least one of the following for intermediate-risk CLL: One of the following B symptoms: Weight loss of 10% or more in previous 6 months Extreme fatigue Fever over 100 F without evidence of infection Night sweats Massive (more than 6 cm below left costal margin) or progressive splenomegaly Massive (more than 10 cm in longest diameter) or progressive lymphadenopathy Progressive lymphocytosis with more than 50% increase over 2-month period or anticipated doubling time of less than 12 months Progressive bone marrow failure as manifested by development or worsening of anemia and/or thrombocytopenia Autoimmune anemia and/or thrombocytopenia poorly responsive to corticosteroids Biopsy proven low-, intermediate-, or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Transformed lymphoma allowed Measurable disease required Re-treatment on this study allowed if disease relapsed after a complete remission