Epirubicin and Rituximab in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma or Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (any grade) or chronic lymphocytic leukemia meeting 1 of the following criteria:
• * Primary refractory disease
• * Disease progression after at least 1 but no more than 4 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens
• * Rituximab administered alone is not considered 1 prior regimen
• * High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell support is considered 1 prior regimen
• Bidimensionally measurable or evaluable disease outside prior irradiation port
• No clinical evidence of CNS involvement
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm\^3\*
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3\* NOTE: \*Unless due to bone marrow involvement
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Renal
• Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN
• Cardiovascular
• No unstable angina
• No uncontrolled congestive heart failure
• LVEF at least 45%
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study treatment
• HIV negative
• No other concurrent primary malignancy except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ, or localized solid tumors cured more than 5 years ago
• No acute infection requiring systemic therapy
• No confusion, disorientation, or major psychiatric illness that would preclude understanding of informed consent
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy
• Chemotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)
• Prior cumulative doxorubicin dose no greater than 6 courses at 50 mg/m\^2
• Endocrine therapy
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy to the entire pelvis
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• Surgery
• Not specified
• Other
• More than 7 days since prior cimetidine
• No concurrent cimetidine