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

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