Combination Chemotherapy and Rituximab in Treating Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia or Lymphocytic Lymphoma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Diagnosis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small B-cell lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) with the following:
• * Lymph node biopsy interpreted as SLL or consistent with CLL or all of the following:
• * Peripheral lymphocyte count greater than 5,000/mm\^3 with small to moderate peripheral lymphocytes and no more than 55% prolymphocytes
• * Bone marrow aspirate containing at least 30% lymphoid cells
• * Immunophenotypic evaluation of peripheral blood lymphocytes demonstrating monoclonality of B lymphocytes with all of the following:
• * CD19 or CD20 coexpressed with CD5 antigen in the absence of other pan-T- cell markers (e.g., CD2 or CD3)
• * Expression of CD23 on CLL cells or Dim B-cell expression of kappa or lambda light chains
• Measurable disease with any of the following:
• * 1 or more lymph nodes at least 1.5 cm by CT scan
• * Splenomegaly by CT scan
• * Peripheral lymphocyte count greater than 5,000/mm3 with coexpression of CD5 and B-cell markers
• * Bone marrow aspirate with at least 30% lymphoid cells
• No mantle cell lymphoma
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy
• At least 2 years
• Hematopoietic
• See Disease Characteristics
• No immune thrombocytopenia
• No hemolytic anemia
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT no greater than 3 times ULN (unless due to hemolysis or CLL)
• No hepatitis
• Renal
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Cardiovascular
• No cardiac dysfunction
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
• No myocardial infarction within the past month
• Other
• HIV negative
• No active acute or chronic infection
• No immunosuppressive diseases
• No autoimmune disorder
• No secondary malignancy that is projected to limit life expectancy
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• See Chemotherapy
• No prior rituximab
• At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy
• Chemotherapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• No prior combination chemotherapy and rituximab or other antibody therapy
• No prior combination chemotherapy comprising an alkylating agent and a purine nucleoside analog (i.e., cyclophosphamide or chlorambucil in combination with fludarabine, cladribine, or pentostatin)
• No prior pentostatin
• Endocrine therapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior corticosteroids
• No concurrent supra-physiologic doses of corticosteroids
• Radiotherapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• Surgery
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery
• Other
• No concurrent immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., cyclosporine)