RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, work in
different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping
them from dividing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab, can block cancer growth in
different ways. Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Others find cancer
cells and help kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them. Giving fludarabine
together with cyclophosphamide and rituximab may kill more cancer cells.
PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying giving fludarabine together with cyclophosphamide
and rituximab to see how well it works in treating patients with chronic lymphocytic
leukemia.