DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) with documented regimen failure on the control arm (standard chemotherapy alone) of PDL study 195-301 Regimen failure, defined as: Bone marrow blasts greater than 10% and rising (according to 2 sequential bone marrow samples obtained 1-2 weeks apart) OR Bone marrow blasts greater than 20% Must enroll within 2 weeks after documented regimen failure No active CNS leukemia