FR901228 in Treating Patients With Hematologic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of one of the following hematologic malignancies: * Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) * Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) (including Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia) * Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) * Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) * Stratum I (CLL and SLL): * Received at least one prior therapy containing a purine analog OR * Received another form of therapy (including alkylating agents) due to history of severe autoimmune disease, requirement for chronic corticosteroid, or other contraindication to purine analog therapy * Stratum II (AML and ALL): * Primary refractory or relapsed leukemia within the past year that is not amenable to curative therapy * OR * Untreated or previously treated poor-risk leukemia defined by any of the following: * 65 years of age and over * Poor-risk candidates for aggressive chemotherapy * Poor-risk cytogenetics (for AML, karyotype abnormalities other than t(8;21), inv(16), t(15;17)) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: * Stratum I only: * No uncontrolled autoimmune hemolytic anemia * No idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura * Stratum II only: * WBC no greater than 10,000/mm\^3 OR * WBC no greater than 40,000/mm\^3 that is stable for at least 1 week (may be sustained by hydroxyurea through the first week of study) Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * ALT and AST no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal Renal: * Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: * Ejection fraction at least 50% by MUGA * No myocardial infarction or unstable angina within the past 6 months * No prior unstable ventricular or supraventricular cardiac arrhythmias Other: * HIV negative * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other medical or psychiatric problem that would preclude study * Stratum I only: * No active infection requiring oral or IV antibiotics PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 28 days since prior chemotherapy (except hydroxyurea) * At least 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas * At least 8 weeks since prior UCN-01 (unless plasma UCN-01 level less than 1 uM) Endocrine therapy: * See Disease Characteristics Radiotherapy: * At least 28 days since prior radiotherapy Surgery: * At least 28 days since prior major surgery