BL22 Immunotoxin in Treating Patients With Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma or Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed chronic lymphocytic leukemia or prolymphocytic leukemia:
• Failed prior standard chemotherapy and treatment is medically indicated as evidenced by the following:
• Progressive disease-related symptoms
• Progressive cytopenias due to marrow involvement
• Progressive or painful splenomegaly or adenopathy
• Rapidly increasing lymphocytosis
• Autoimmune hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenia
• Increased frequency of infections OR
• Confirmed CD22+ B-cell indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Stages II-IV that have failed at least 1 prior standard therapy and treatment is medically indicated
• No patients whose serum neutralizes BL22 or PE38 in tissue culture, due to antitoxin or antimouse-IgG antibodies
• No central nervous system disease requiring treatment
• If the patient is non-leukemic, the absolute neutrophil count must be greater than 1,000/mm3 and the platelet count greater than 40,000/mm3
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Karnofsky 60-100%
• Life expectancy:
• More than 6 months
• Hematopoietic:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Hepatic:
• ALT and AST less than 5 times upper limit of normal
• Renal:
• Adequate renal function
• Pulmonary:
• Adequate pulmonary function
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• HIV negative
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Prior bone marrow transplantation allowed
• At least 3 weeks since prior interferon for malignancy
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for malignancy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy for malignancy
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• At least 3 weeks since prior retinoids
• At least 3 weeks since prior systemic therapy for cancer