OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the ability of c-myb antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to purge bone marrow cells of clonogenic chronic myelogenous leukemia tumor cells and repopulate the bone marrow with normal stem cells in patients treated with high-dose busulfan and cyclophosphamide followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation using marrow treated with c-myb antisense oligodeoxynucleotide. II. Determine the response rate, degree of hematopoietic reconstitution, overall survival, and relapse-free survival of patients treated with this regimen. III. Determine the toxicity of this regimen in these patients.