VNP40101M in Treating Patients With Richter Syndrome or Refractory or Relapsed Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia or Other Lymphoproliferative Disorders

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of 1 of the following hematologic malignancies:

  • Fludarabine refractory or relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

    • CLL in transformation allowed
  • Richter syndrome
  • Other refractory lymphoproliferative diseases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-2

• Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL

  • Renal dysfunction due to organ infiltration by disease allowed
• AST and ALT ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless due to organ infiltration by disease)
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN (unless due to Gilbert's syndrome)
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No uncontrolled infection
• No symptomatic coronary artery disease
• No arrhythmia not controlled by medication
• No uncontrolled, symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months
• No other uncontrolled illness
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• At least 2 weeks since prior cytotoxic therapy except in patients with rapidly progressing disease
• No other concurrent standard or investigational treatment for this cancer
• No other concurrent cytotoxic investigational drugs
• No concurrent disulfiram