DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia in first, second, third, or subsequent complete remission (CR)

  • Must be at least 60 years of age if first CR

  • Must have had histological proof (from bone marrow aspirate, smears, or touch preps of marrow biopsy) of one of the following prior to achieving CR:

    • Acute myeloblastic leukemia (M0, M1, M2)
    • Acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3)
    • Acute myelomonocytic leukemia (M4)
    • Acute monocytic leukemia (M5)
    • Acute erythroleukemia (M6)
    • Acute megakaryocytic leukemia (M7)
    • Refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Not specified

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin less than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT less than 3 times ULN

Renal:

• Creatinine less than 2 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• No clinically significant active cardiac disease

Pulmonary:

• No clinically significant active pulmonary disease

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No uncontrolled or active autoimmune disease

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Prior autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) allowed
• No prior allogeneic BMT
• Other prior immunotherapy allowed if not received during the most recent treatment

Chemotherapy:

• Not specified

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• Not specified

Surgery:

• Not specified