DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with isolated extramedullary relapse Relapse occurred during or following front-line therapy for ALL Initial diagnosis of more than 25% blasts of L1 or L2 morphology No leukemic marrow (M1) by conventional assessment Patients with B precursor ALL must also be enrolled on study CCG-B958 Relapse occurred in the CNS, testis, or eye Ocular relapse confirmed by an ophthalmologist and by cytology or iris biopsy Combined CNS and ocular relapse eligible Down Syndrome patients not eligible No prior bone marrow transplantation in first remission No prior toxicity from any study drugs Patient age: Under 21