DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: One of the following hematologic malignancies that is ineligible for higher priority protocols and confirmed at Memorial Hospital: Acute myelogenous leukemia Accelerated or blastic phase (greater than 10% blasts in marrow) chronic myelogenous leukemia Poor-risk myelodysplastic syndrome, defined as: Refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB) with at least 10% marrow blasts and cytopenia requiring therapy RAEB in transformation Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia No acute promyelocytic leukemia