Study of Motexafin Gadolinium (MGd) in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia or Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma

* ≥ 18 years old * CLL as defined by the NCI 96 criteria (exception; patients may have bright surface immunoglobulin staining if negative for t\[11;14\] translocation or cyclin D1) or SLL as defined by WHO classification criteria and is refractory or relapsed as defined by one of the following: 1) Refractory disease- progressive disease while on therapy, or 2) Relapsed disease progressive disease after at least one treatment course of therapy with disease response or stabilization * ECOG performance status score of 0, 1, or 2 * Willing and able to provide written informed consent

Laboratory Values of: * Platelet count \< 30,000/µL * AST or ALT \> 2 x ULN (upper limit of normal) * Total bilirubin \> 2 x ULN * Creatinine \> 2.0 mg/dL and * Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, systemic corticosteroids (\> 10 mg oral prednisone or equivalent), or systemic biologic anticancer therapy within 21 days before beginning study treatment * Greater than three prior regimens (where a regimen is defined as a treatment for CLL/SLL given initially or after disease progression) * Uncontrolled hypertension * Known history of porphyria (testing not required at screening) * Known history of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (testing not required at screening) * Known history of HIV infection (testing not required at screening) * Pregnant or lactating (pregnancy test is required for all female patients of childbearing potential) * Woman of childbearing potential or sexually active man unwilling to use adequate contraceptive protection * Physical or mental condition that makes patient unable to complete specified follow-up assessments