DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, including the following subtypes:

  • Aggressive B-cell lymphoma (Group A)

    • Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
    • Transformed lymphoma
  • Follicular lymphoma (Group B)

  • Small lymphocytic lymphoma

    • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (Group C)
    • Other B-cell small lymphocytic disorders
• No mantle cell lymphoma
• No potentially curative treatment options because of lack of response, relapse, or ineligibility

• Measurable disease*

  • At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan NOTE: *Only bone marrow or peripheral blood involvement required for CLL and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia

• Relapsed or refractory disease

  • Patients with refractory disease (i.e., less than a partial response to the last treatment) must have received no more than 3 prior regimens (group A)
  • Patients with sensitive disease (i.e., at least a partial response to the last treatment) must have received no more than 4 prior regimens (group A)

  • Patients who have failed prior autologous transplantation are eligible (group A)

    • No more than 5 prior regimens (groups B and C)
    • The salvage regimen, conditioning regimen, and any maintenance therapy are considered 1 regimen
  • Prior rituximab or alemtuzumab is not considered prior therapy
  • No limitation to the amount of prior radiotherapy
• No CNS involvement

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 ≥ 1,000/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 50, 000/mm^3 (> 20,000/mm^3 for patients with thrombocytopenia due to bone marrow involvement)

Hepatic

• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia

Other

• No prior allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to CCI-779
• No ongoing or active infection
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance

• No other active malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

  • Completed therapy and considered < 30% risk of relapse
• No other concurrent uncontrolled illness
• Fasting cholesterol ≤ 350 mg/dL
• Fasting triglycerides ≤ 400 mg/dL
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent prophylactic hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors
• No concurrent pegfilgrastim

Chemotherapy

• More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No concurrent unconventional therapies, food, or vitamin supplements containing Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
• No other concurrent known inducers of CYP3A4
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy