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

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * One of the following histologically or cytologically confirmed diseases: * Indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) * Stage II-IV disease * Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) meeting 1 of the following risk criteria: * Intermediate-risk with progressive disease * High-risk, modified Rai stage disease * CD20-positive by flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry * Measurable disease * Rituximab-refractory disease, defined as failure to achieve a response to the last course of prior treatment with rituximab alone or in combination with other therapeutic modalities * No known neoplastic leptomeningeal involvement and/or brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 OR * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy * More than 3 months Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 50,000/mm\^3 * WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal * Bilirubin normal (unless due to Gilbert's disease or organ involvement by NHL or CLL) Renal * Creatinine normal OR * Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min Cardiovascular * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * HIV negative * No history of anaphylaxis or immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated hypersensitivity to murine protein * Prior infusion reactions to rituximab without an IgE component allowed * No active or ongoing infection * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No other uncontrolled illness PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * See Disease Characteristics * See Radiotherapy * At least 12 weeks since prior rituximab * More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered Chemotherapy * No more than 3 prior chemotherapy regimens * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered Endocrine therapy * No concurrent glucocorticoids Radiotherapy * At least 12 weeks since prior radioimmunotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery * Not specified Other * At least 4 weeks since prior therapy for the malignancy * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No other concurrent investigational agents