DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with more than 20% blasts in bone marrow by WHO and/or FAB classifications

  • Antecedent myelodysplasia allowed if there was no bone marrow biopsy showing myelodysplastic syndromes over the previous 3 months
  • No acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3)
  • No therapy-related myelodysplastic syndromes or AML
  • No chronic myeloproliferative disorder
• Must also be enrolled on CALGB 9665 unless inaspirable and mandatory leukemic cells cannot be obtained from the blood

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 15 to 59

Performance status:

• Not specified

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Not specified

Hepatic:

• Not specified

Renal:

• Not specified

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Prior emergency leukapheresis allowed
• Prior growth factor/cytokine support allowed
• No other prior biologic therapy

• Other concurrent myeloid growth factors allowed only if prognostic factors predictive of clinical deterioration are present such as the following:

  • Pneumonia
  • Hypotension
  • Multiorgan dysfunction (sepsis syndrome)
  • Fungal infection

Chemotherapy:

• Prior emergency treatment for hyperleukocytosis with hydroxyurea allowed
• No other prior chemotherapy
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• No prior endocrine therapy
• No concurrent hormonal therapy other than steroids for adrenal failure or septic shock or hormones for conditions not related to disease (e.g., insulin for diabetes or estrogens or progestins for gynecologic indications)

Radiotherapy:

• One dose of prior cranial radiotherapy for CNS leukostasis allowed
• No other prior radiotherapy
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

• Not specified