DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically diagnosed refractory anemia, refractory anemia with excess blasts, refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation, refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts, or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia with significant cytopenias of at least 4 weeks duration No more than 1 prior treatment for disease Not eligible for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation if less than 60 years of age