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

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