OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the efficacy of MCE (mitoxantrone/cytarabine/etoposide) followed by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to mobilize peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). II. Evaluate the toxicity of this regimen. III. Evaluate the cytoreductive effects of this regimen in CML as determined by the ability to mobilize Philadelphia chromosome-negative PBSC. IV. Assess the time of peak CD34+ and CD34+/CD38- cell concentrations in the peripheral blood of patients treated with this regimen.