Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Treating Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed T-cell large granular lymphocytic (T-LGL) leukemia associated with clinically significant hematocytopenia demonstrated by one of the following values while off growth factor support:
• * Absolute neutrophil count less than 1,000/mm\^3
• * Hemoglobin less than 8 g/dL
• * Platelet count less than 50,000/mm\^3
• Clinically evaluable disease with peripheral blood T-LGL leukemia cells expressing the CD3+, CD8+ phenotype detectable by FACS
• Monoclonal T-cell population in peripheral blood (circulating mononuclear cells) demonstrated by TCR beta or gamma chain gene rearrangement
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Karnofsky 50-100%
• Life expectancy:
• More than 2 months
• Hematopoietic:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No active major bleeding episode within the past 4 weeks
• Hepatic:
• Direct bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL
• Renal:
• Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL
• Other:
• No concurrent serious active infection
• Patients with fever without apparent site of infection may begin study while on antibiotics as long as the following are true:
• * No pathogenic organism in culture
• * Afebrile (maximum temperature less than 38°C) for at least 5 days
• HIV negative
• No other primary cancer other than basal cell skin cancer
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior interferon
• Concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF), sargramostim (GM-CSF), interleukin-11, or similar sustained-release/long-acting product (e.g., pegylated G-CSF) allowed if dose established at least 4 weeks prior to study participation
• No concurrent interferon
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• No concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed if dose established at least 3 weeks prior to study participation
• Radiotherapy:
• Not specified
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• At least 1 week since completion of prior antibiotic regimen for serious infectious episode
• No other concurrent investigational drugs