Bryostatin 1 and Rituximab in Treating Patients With B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma or Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: One of the following histologically or cytologically confirmed diseases: Indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) Stage II-IV disease Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) meeting 1 of the following risk criteria: Intermediate-risk with progressive disease High-risk, modified Rai stage disease CD20-positive by flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry Measurable disease Rituximab-refractory disease, defined as failure to achieve a response to the last course of prior treatment with rituximab alone or in combination with other therapeutic modalities No known neoplastic leptomeningeal involvement and/or brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-2 OR Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy More than 3 months Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count ≥ 50,000/mm^3 WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3 Hepatic AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal Bilirubin normal (unless due to Gilbert's disease or organ involvement by NHL or CLL) Renal Creatinine normal OR Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min Cardiovascular No symptomatic congestive heart failure No unstable angina pectoris No cardiac arrhythmia Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception HIV negative No history of anaphylaxis or immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated hypersensitivity to murine protein Prior infusion reactions to rituximab without an IgE component allowed No active or ongoing infection No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance No other uncontrolled illness PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy See Disease Characteristics See Radiotherapy At least 12 weeks since prior rituximab More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered Chemotherapy No more than 3 prior chemotherapy regimens More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered Endocrine therapy No concurrent glucocorticoids Radiotherapy At least 12 weeks since prior radioimmunotherapy More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery Not specified Other At least 4 weeks since prior therapy for the malignancy No other concurrent anticancer therapy No other concurrent investigational agents