Akt Inhibitor MK2206, Bendamustine Hydrochloride, and Rituximab in Treating Patients With Relapsed Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia or Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma

Inclusion Criteria

• Diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) criteria or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria; this includes previous documentation of:
• Biopsy-proven SLL or
• Diagnosis of CLL according to NCI working group criteria as evidenced by all of the following:
• Peripheral blood B-cell count of > 5 x 10^9/L consisting of small to moderate size lymphocytes
• Immunophenotyping consistent with CLL defined as:
• The predominant population of lymphocytes share both B-cell antigens (CD19, CD20 [typically dim expression], or CD23) as well as CD5 in the absence of other pan-T-cell markers (CD3,CD2, etc.)
• Clonality as evidenced by kappa (Κ) or lambda (λ) light chain expression (typically dim immunoglobulin expression) or other genetic method (e.g., immunoglobulin heavy chain variable [IGHV] analysis)
• NOTE: splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, or lymphadenopathy are not required for the diagnosis of CLL
• Before diagnosing CLL or SLL, mantle cell lymphoma must be excluded by demonstrating a negative fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis for t (11;14) (IgH/CCND1) on peripheral blood or tissue biopsy, or negative immunohistochemical stains for cyclin D1 on involved tissue biopsy
• Demonstrated progression after one or two prior lines of CLL therapy; note: rituximab monotherapy does not count as a prior line of therapy
• Progressive disease with any one of the following characteristics based on standard criteria for treatment as defined by the NCI-Working Group (WG) 1996
• Symptomatic CLL characterized by any one of the following:
• Weight loss >= 10% within the previous 6 months
• Extreme fatigue attributed to CLL
• Fevers > 100.5° Fahrenheit (F) for 2 weeks without evidence of infection
• Drenching night sweats without evidence of infection
• Evidence of progressive bone marrow failure with hemoglobin 6 cm below left costal margin)
• Massive (> 10 cm) or rapidly progressive lymphadenopathy
• Life expectancy >= 12 months
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0, 1, or 2
• Total bilirubin = 1.5 x ULN, a direct bilirubin should be performed and must be = 60 mL/min/1.73 m^2 for patients with creatinine levels > 1.5 x ULN
• A non-transfused platelet count >= 30 x 10^9/L
• Neutrophil count (absolute neutrophil count [ANC]) >= 1 x 10^9/L
• Hemoglobin (Hgb) >= 8 g/dL
• Note: cytopenias due to bone marrow failure are common in patients with relapsed CLL requiring treatment; accordingly, normal bone marrow function is NOT required for participation
• Negative pregnancy test done = = 8 or fasting blood glucose >= 140 mg/dL
• Any of the following:
• History of significant ventricular arrhythmia in the last 5 years including: ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation
• Corrected QT (QTc) prolongation on baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) (defined as a QTc interval > 450 msec for males and QTc interval > 470 msec for females)
• Currently using a medication known to cause prolonged QTc which cannot be discontinued; note: other medications with possible risk of prolonged QTc are allowed but should be used with caution; patients using these medications should be monitored accordingly
• Ventricular arrhythmia on baseline ECG (ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation >= 3 beats in a row)
• Second or third degree heart block
• Receiving any other investigational agent concurrently which would be considered as a treatment for the primary neoplasm
• Other active primary malignancy requiring treatment or which limits survival to < 24 months
• Any major surgery =< 28 days prior to registration
• Any radiation therapy =< 4 weeks prior to registration
• Current use of corticosteroids; EXCEPTION: low doses of steroids (< 10 mg of prednisone or equivalent dose of other steroid) used for treatment of non-hematologic medical conditions; NOTE: previous use of corticosteroids is allowed