Obatoclax and Bortezomib in Treating Patients With Aggressive Relapsed or Recurrent Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Obatoclax may stop the growth of non-Hodgkin lymphoma by blocking blood flow to the cancer. Bortezomib and obatoclax may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving obatoclax together with bortezomib may kill more cancer cells. This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of obatoclax when given together with bortezomib and to see how well they work in treating patients with aggressive relapsed or recurrent non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To establish the maximum tolerated dose of obatoclax mesylate when administered with bortezomib in patients with aggressive relapsed or recurrent non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

II. To describe the toxicities of this regimen at each dose studied in these patients.

III. To characterize the pharmacokinetic behavior of this regimen in these patients.

IV. To obtain preliminary information regarding the effect of obatoclax mesylate on several apoptotic regulatory pathways.

V. To document all clinical responses in these patients to this regimen.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

PHASE I: Patients receive obatoclax mesylate IV over 3 hours followed by bortezomib IV on days 1, 8, 15, and 22.

Treatment repeats every 35 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Pharmacokinetic evaluations of obatoclax mesylate are conducted in all patients during the first course.

PHASE II: Patients receive obatoclax mesylate IV over 3 hours followed by bortezomib IV on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 at the maximum tolerated dose determined in phase I.

Treatment repeats every 35 days for up to 1 year in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed for 26 weeks.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma for which standard curative or palliative measures do not exist or are no longer effective, including any of the following subtypes:

  * Follicular grade I, II, or III lymphoma
  * Marginal zone lymphoma
  * Mantle cell lymphoma
  * Diffuse large B cell lymphoma
  * Small lymphocytic lymphoma
* Must have had at least one prior chemotherapeutic regimen:

  * Steroids or rituximab alone or local radiotherapy do not count as regimens
  * Tositumomab or ibritumomab tiuxetan allowed as regimens
* Clear evidence of disease progression or lack of response after the most recent therapy, including rituximab or local radiotherapy, is required
* At least 3 months since prior autologous stem cell transplantation and relapsed (\>= 1 year since prior allogeneic transplantation and relapsed) and no active related infections (i.e., fungal or viral)
* In the case of allogeneic transplantation relapse, there should be no active acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of any grade and no chronic GVHD other than mild skin, oral, or ocular GVHD not requiring systemic immunosuppression
* No known active brain metastases, other neurological disorders/dysfunction or history of seizure disorder, or other neurological dysfunction
* Karnofsky performance status 60-100%
* Life expectancy \> 3 months
* Total bilirubin normal
* AST and ALT =\< 2.5 times upper limit of normal
* Creatinine normal or creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective double-barrier contraception during and for 3 months after the last dose of obatoclax mesylate
* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* More than 2 days since prior steroids
* More than 2 weeks since prior low-dose chlorambucil
* WBC \>= 3,000/mm\^3
* ANC \>= 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
* At least 2 weeks since prior valproic acid

Exclusion Criteria:

* Uncontrolled concurrent medical condition or illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:

  * Ongoing or active infection
  * Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  * Unstable angina pectoris
  * Cardiac arrhythmia including QTc \> 450 msec
* Patients who are intolerant or refractory to prior treatment with bortezomib (refractory is defined as no response to prior treatment with bortezomib)
* Chemotherapy within the past 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C)
* Rituximab within the past 3 months (unless there is evidence of progression)
* Patients who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier
* Other concurrent investigational agents
* Combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* No history of allergic reactions attributed to bortezomib, polyethylene glycol (PEG 300), or polysorbate 20
* No psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements