DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed primary refractory or relapsed acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) or acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in blast crisis, or refractory or relapsed lymphoblastic lymphoma Priority is given to patients previously treated with conventional high dose cytarabine regimen without bryostatin 1 Eligible if previously failed a conventional high dose cytarabine regimen or if underwent subsequent high dose therapy with bone marrow/stem cell transplantation with curative intent