DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven myelodysplastic syndrome Refractory anemia (RA) RA with ringed sideroblasts (RARS) RA with excess blasts (RAEB) RAEB in transformation Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) RA and RARS: Platelet count less than 50,000/mm3 CMML: If WBC greater than 10,000/mm3, then must have at least 8% monocytes in the blood or marrow