Bryostatin 1 and Rituximab in Treating Patients With B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma or Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as bryostatin 1, work in different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Monoclonal antibodies such as rituximab can locate cancer cells and either kill them or deliver cancer-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. Bryostatin 1 may help rituximab kill more cancer cells by making them more sensitive to the drug. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving bryostatin 1 together with rituximab works in treating patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia that has not responded to previous treatment with rituximab.