Green Tea Extract in Treating Patients With Stage 0, Stage I, or Stage II Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Confirmed diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
• * Stage 0, I, or II disease
• * Previously untreated disease
• * Splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, or lymphadenopathy are not required for the diagnosis of CLL
• * Absolute lymphocyte count \> 10,000/mm\^3
• * Lymphocytosis must consist of small to moderate size lymphocytes, with ≤ 55% prolymphocytes, atypical lymphocytes, or lymphoblasts morphologically
• * Phenotypically characterized B-CLL defined by all of the following criteria:
• * A population of leukemic cells that co-expresses the B-cell antigen CD23 as well as CD5 in the absence of other T-cell markers (CD3, CD2, etc.)
• * Dim surface immunoglobulin expression
• * Exclusively κ or λ light chains
• * Mantle cell lymphoma must be excluded by demonstrating the absence of the t(11:14) by FISH testing
• Patients who require chemotherapy for treatment of CLL, based on any of the following criteria, are excluded:
• * CLL-related symptoms requiring treatment, including any of the following:
• * Unintentional weight loss ≥ 10% body weight within the previous 6 months
• * Extreme fatigue
• * Fevers \> 100.5°F for 2 weeks without evidence of infection
• * Night sweats without evidence of infection
• * Evidence of progressive marrow failure due to CLL involvement of bone marrow as manifested by the development of worsening anemia (hemoglobin \< 11 g/dl) and/or thrombocytopenia (platelet count \< 100,000/mm\^3)
• * Thrombocytopenia due to immune phenomena (ITP) is permitted as long as platelet count is ≥ 100,000/mm\^3and the patient is not on active pharmacologic therapy
• * Massive (i.e. \> 6 cm below left costal margin) or progressive splenomegaly
• * Massive nodes or clusters (i.e., \> 10 cm in longest diameter) or progressive adenopathy
• * Progressive lymphocytosis with an increase of \> 50% over 2 month period, or an anticipated lymphocyte doubling time of \< 6 months
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/µL
• ANC ≥ 1500/µL
• Hemoglobin ≥ 11 g/dL
• Total or direct bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2 x ULN
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN OR creatinine clearance ≥ 40 mL/min
• May have a history of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and positive Coombs test provided there has not been active hemolysis requiring transfusion or steroid treatment ≤ 10 weeks prior to registration
• ECOG performance status 0, 1, or 2
• Life expectancy of ≥ 6 months
• No uncontrolled infection
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 weeks
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Must employ adequate contraception (condoms, diaphragm, birth control pills, injections, intrauterine device \[IUD\], or abstinence, etc.) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation
• No other severe medical or psychiatric illness
• No active hemolysis requiring transfusion or other pharmacologic therapy
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• At least 8 weeks since prior and no other concurrent over the counter green tea or green tea extract
• No prior daily use of over the counter green tea products for medicinal purposes for \> 4 weeks (phase II only)
• No other concurrent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, or any ancillary therapy considered investigational (utilized for a non-FDA-approved indication and in the context of a research investigation)
• No concurrent combination anti-retroviral therapy for HIV positive patients
• No concurrent oral steroid preparations