RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies can locate cancer cells and either kill them or deliver cancer-killing substances to them without harming normal cells.

PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of monoclonal antibody therapy in treating patients who have recurrent acute lymphoblastic leukemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of B43-genistein immunoconjugate in patients with recurrent B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. II. Determine the systemic B43-genistein exposure levels in these patients. III. Determine the antileukemic activity of this regimen in these patients. IV. Monitor the development of human antimouse antibody in these patients on this regimen.

OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation study. Patients receive B43-genistein immunoconjugate IV over 1 hour on days 1-3, 8-10, and 15-17. Treatment continues every 3 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or until disease progression. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of B43-genistein immunoconjugate until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 6 patients experience dose limiting toxicity. Patients are followed every 6 months.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A minimum of 3-15 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Immunophenotypically proven B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia Relapsed at least once following standard induction chemotherapy M1, M2, M3 No CNS disease (including clinical signs of CNS disease) OR Immunophenotypically proven B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Refractory or resistant disease following up to 3 prior courses of combination chemotherapy Relapsed following bone marrow transplantation No CNS disease No AIDS-related or HTLV-1 associated lymphomas NHL must be one of the following types: Small lymphocytic lymphoma (consistent with chronic lymphoblastic leukemia) Follicular small cleaved cell lymphoma Follicular mixed cell lymphoma Follicular large cell lymphoma Diffuse small cleaved cell lymphoma Diffuse mixed cell lymphoma Diffuse large cell lymphoma Immunoblastic large cell lymphoma Diffuse small noncleaved cell lymphoma Must have greater than 20% CD19 antigen positive blasts in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, or biopsy (for NHL) at first diagnosis or relapse (non-T cell ALL with CD19 positivity pending allowed) Patients who have relapsed after bone marrow transplantation are eligible (no active acute or chronic graft versus host disease involving more than the skin)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 80 and under Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 2 months Hematopoietic: Granulocytopenia, anemia, and/or thrombocytopenia allowed Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT or SGPT less than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN OR Creatinine clearance or radioisotope GFR at least 70 mL/min Cardiovascular: Shortening fraction at least 27% by echocardiogram OR Cardiac ejection fraction greater than 50% by echocardiogram or gaited radionuclide Pulmonary: No dyspnea at rest No exercise intolerance No clinical evidence of significant restrictive pulmonary disease Pulse oximetry greater than 94% FEV1 or FVC greater than 60% DLCO at least 65 Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study HIV negative No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus No other serious uncontrolled medical condition No active uncontrolled infection requiring systemic antibiotics or antifungal medications Prior CNS toxicity no greater than grade 1

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: See Disease Characteristics Recovered from prior biologic therapy Chemotherapy: See Disease Charactertistics At least 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy (4 weeks since nitrosoureas) and recovered Endocrine therapy: At least 1 week since prior high dose steroid therapy and recovered Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Not specified