DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Unequivocal diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) meeting the following criteria:

  • More than 20% blasts present in the bone marrow, as defined by WHO classification
  • Documented FLT3 mutation (i.e., internal tandem duplication [ITD] or point mutation), determined by analysis in a protocol-designated FLT3 screening laboratory
• No acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3)
• Patients with antecedent myelodysplasia (MDS) allowed, provided they received no prior cytotoxic (including azacytidine or decitabine) therapy for MDS
• No therapy-related AML after prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy for another disorder or cancer

• Patients with neurologic symptoms suggestive of CNS leukemia may undergo a lumbar puncture

  • Patients with a positive CSF for AML blasts are not eligible

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• Bilirubin < 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use 2 methods of effective contraception during and for 12 weeks after completion of study therapy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics

• No prior therapy for leukemia or myelodysplasia, except for the following:

  • Emergency leukapheresis
  • Emergency treatment for hyperleukocytosis with hydroxyurea for ≤ 5 days
  • Cranial radiotherapy for CNS leukostasis (one dose only)
  • Growth factor or cytokine support
• No concurrent hormones or other chemotherapy, except steroids given for hypersensitivity or transfusion reactions or hormones for non-disease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
• No concurrent apprepitant
• No concurrent enrollment on another clinical trial with investigational agents